A new report from the Race Equality Foundation suggests that social prescribing is reaching a diverse population – but shows that better data is needed.
A new report from the Race Equality Foundation, Social Prescribing, Health Inequalities and Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic Communities, looks at whether social prescribing is reaching Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities.
The report shows that there are limitations in data, but focuses on reporting from Kirklees and Islington:
- In Kirklees, there are higher proportions of social prescribing referrals for those from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities compared to their population size.
For instance, Asian/Asian British people make up 29% of the referrals, while in the population demographics, they account for 19.4% of the population. Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African people represent 4% of social prescribing referrals, while constituting 2.3% of the population. The Kirklees data also highlights that 35% of all social prescribing referrals between April and October 2023 came from individuals living in the most deprived areas.
- In Islington, social prescribing referrals for those from Black backgrounds were higher than their population size. For instance, those from Black, Black British, Caribbean, or African backgrounds represent 18% of social prescribing referrals, which is higher than their proportion in the population demographics (13.3%).
The report suggests that the higher proportion of social prescribing referrals for those from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities may reflect that these groups are more likely to live in deprived areas – and may therefore have a greater need for social prescribing.
The report also looked at case studies from Camden and Ealing, which demonstrated successful approaches to addressing disparities in social prescribing referrals. The key recommendations emphasise:
- The need for culturally competent healthcare
- Targeted community engagement
- Better data analysis to ensure tailored support services
Building on other research
As the report suggests, there is a clear need for better data on who is accessing social prescribing. In previous evidence reviews, we have identified very limited information on ethnicity for people referred to social prescribing. However, existing data from the Oxford Social Prescribing Observatory does suggest that overall rates of social prescribing activity are slightly higher among Black people than other populations.
Commenting on the Race Equality Foundation findings, Charlotte Osborn-Forde, NASP’s Chief Executive said:
“This report is an important step forward in understanding more about the reach and potential of social prescribing to address health inequalities, and it is encouraging that the findings show a higher proportion of social prescribing referrals for people from Black, Asian, and minoritised ethnic backgrounds relative to their population size.
“If we are serious about prevention and addressing health inequalities, social prescribing could be a gamechanger – but as this report demonstrates, there is a need to keep improving research and data collection, ensuring we invest in what works.”
Dr Jahan Foster Zabit, Senior Researcher at the Race Equality Foundation said:
“There is a notable gap in understanding social prescribing’s impact on health inequalities, particularly for people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds. Our findings show social prescribing is making important strides in addressing the barriers to access and engagement experienced by our communities. However, there remains an urgent need for tailored interventions and better demographic monitoring to ensure that social prescribing is reaching those most affected by health disparities.”
