What is social prescribing?

Health and social care providers are increasingly forming partnerships with their local charities to compliment support and treatment for patients.  

 

These ‘social prescribing initiatives’ often see GPs and other health professionals refer patients to local charities offering vital support in the community, to help patient recovery and prevent further problems. 

 

Challenges charities are currently helping to address include mental health problems, people suffering from loneliness, as well as those in need of support in giving up smoking and accessing better nutrition. 

 

According to experts, social prescribing is set to be a key area of funding and service delivery for charities over 2022 and beyond, as vulnerable communities continue to recover from the impact of the COVID pandemic.  

 

Here we look at what social prescribing is, how charities can benefit, and why this form of partnership across the voluntary and care sectors is seen as crucial to the health of the nation. 

 

 

’Social prescribing’, explained

 

A typical social prescribing scheme sees local health and care organisations link up with charities in their local area to create a list of activities and support being provided in the community, which can be used to help support patients’ and residents’ needs.  

 

For example, a local charity that runs a gardening or repair workshop, for people to alleviate loneliness and build confidence, can be an ideal scheme to prescribe to an older person experiencing mental health problems. 

 

Another could see a GP prescribe free or low-cost exercise classes run by a local charity to patients looking to build up their fitness. 

 

Such arrangements are becoming increasingly formalised, with health and care commissioners offering funding to charities to ensure they can offer this vital community support to aid patient care.  

 

Activities can be in person, digital, or both, through a hybrid programme of care. For example, this could see a charity running wellbeing groups at community centres as well as online, via Zoom or other virtual means.  

 

 

The ’social prescribing’ boom

 

Social prescribing is a key component of the NHS’s long-term planning. By 2023/24, it aims to prescribe activities and support from charities to at least 900,000 people. 

 

The increase in social prescribing has already become prevalent, particularly post-pandemic, and is set to escalate as charity partnerships become further embedded in local commissioning. 

 

To help charities tap into this social prescribing boom, a programme has been launched by the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), Royal Voluntary Service (RVS), and the NHS. 

 

Called the Accelerating Innovation in Social Prescribing programme, it aims to foster cross-sector links, highlight gaps in demand where charities can help, and share good practice across the UK.  

 

It is ideal for charities “who have places, people and services which can be deployed in social prescribing provision”. 

 

NASP Chief Executive James Sanderson said: “National organisations have told us they have much to offer social prescribing. With their input we’ll be able to engage more people in activities that support their health and wellbeing, particularly amongst communities affected by health inequalities and COVID-19.” 

 

RVS Chief Executive Catherine Johnstone added: “Many national voluntary organisations have much of what they need to deliver wonderful social prescribing offers. 
 
“This programme enables them to learn from each other, put real focus on their innovation and with expert support plug any gaps that are holding them back. 
 
“The programme will prioritise areas of unmet social prescribing need where national organisations have a role to play but are not yet delivering and support innovative activity where the programme can add most value.” 

 

  

’Social prescribing’ in action 

 

Among social prescribing initiatives to get underway in 2022 is the PHP Community Impact Fund, which has handed £85,000 to charities to improve social prescribing in Scotland. 

 

The fund has been created by Primary Health Properties (PHP) and is being managed by Foundation Scotland. 

 

Charities to benefit from the fund include family support charity Parent to Parent, which operates in Angus, Dundee, and Perth & Kinross. Its grant of just under £8,000 is being used to offer cognitive behavioural therapy to parents suffering from stress and anxiety. 

 

This funding is vital “to strengthen our community support network as we work in partnership with GP practices and local community venues”, according to the charity’s Head of Service Trudy Doidge. 

 

Another charity involved in social prescribing to benefit from the funding is Glasgow’s Golden Generation, which is to deploy a ‘dementia champion’ to support more than 100 older people through community centre entertainment and activities.  

 

“As our NHS continues to be under immense pressure, this is a fantastic initiative from PHP to help improve patient wellbeing outcomes, quality of life and emotional wellbeing,” said Foundation Scotland Fund Adviser Jennifer McPhail. 

 

Assessments of social prescribing initiatives already in practice have already found significant improvements in local people’s health.  

 

For example, one Bristol-based social prescribing project reduced anxiety levels in the community, according to a study, while evaluation of a social prescribing initiative in Rotherham, involving more than 20 charities, found reductions in NHS use among eight in ten people.