National Academy for Social Prescribing

Dedicated to the advancement of social prescribing through promotion, collaboration and innovation

WHAT IS THE ACADEMY?

The National Academy for Social Prescribing was launched by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, on the 23 October 2019.

The Academy creates partnerships, across the arts, health, sports, leisure, and the natural environment, alongside other aspects of our lives, to promote health and wellbeing at a national and local level. We will champion social prescribing and the work of local communities in connecting people for wellbeing.

Things fell apart and even everyday activities became overwhelming…social prescribing made all the difference to me and now I’m able to give back to my community.

Arabella, on her experience of social prescribing

Social prescribing…has changed the lives of my patients in ways that I don’t think any of us could ever have expected.

Nikki Kanani, GP and NHS England Medical Director for Primary Care

Art not only saved my life, it transformed it.

Debs, on her experience of social prescribing

Social prescribing represents the most effective, wide reaching and life changing of all initiatives in my 30 years as a GP.

Marie Anne Essam, GP

I thought I was just nothing … Now every morning I wake up with a smile. I think I’ve got a bright future as well.

Akeela, on her experience of social prescribing

OUR OBJECTIVES

Make some noise - Raising the profile of social prescribing.

In order to expand social prescribing, we need to get the message out there – that connecting people for wellbeing is vital for people and communities.

Find resources - Develop innovative funding partnerships.

We recognise the challenges faced by social prescribing link workers, the local voluntary, community, social enterprise and arts sector and will seek to improve resources to realise their social prescribing goals.

Build relationships - Broker and build relationships across all sectors.

Social prescribing relies on strong, mature relationships at national and local levels across multiple sectors.

Improve the evidence - Shape and share the evidence base.

There is already an evidence base for social prescribing, but it is not comprehensive. We need to build a consensus about what we know and don’t know, improve accessibility and visibility of evidence.

Spread what works - Promote learning on social prescribing.

We will share what is good, what has been learnt and draw from multiple sources to ensure continued development of social prescribing.

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