The National Academy for Social Prescribing was launched by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, on 23 October 2019.
We are an organisation dedicated to the advancement of social prescribing through promotion, collaboration and innovation. We work to create 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.
What are 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.
How will we deliver this?
Read our Strategic Plan, A Social Revolution in Wellbeing to find out how we will support social prescribing over the next few years.