The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) and Historic England have launched the new ‘Heritage and Social Prescribing’ e-learning module, designed to connect more people with heritage-based activities.
The module supports Social Prescribing Link Workers and similar roles to better understand the positive impact of heritage and to connect people to a wide range of groups, activities and experiences. These could include projects at museums, places of worship and historic buildings, activities such as community archaeology and heritage walks, and initiatives that can be accessed at home or digitally.
By strengthening confidence and awareness among link workers, the programme aims to ensure that more people can engage with the benefits of heritage projects, contributing to improved wellbeing and stronger, more connected communities.
The free module offers practical guidance on:
• The benefits of heritage for wellbeing, for a range of communities
• Communicating heritage opportunities in a way that resonates with individuals’ unique strengths and interests
• Strategies for addressing barriers to engaging with heritage
• Identifying and mapping heritage opportunities locally
• Building meaningful relationships with heritage organisations and partners
There is strong evidence that engaging with heritage improves wellbeing - from strengthening identity and belonging, to boosting confidence and resilience. [1]
Developed by NASP in partnership with Historic England, the training has been co-created with link workers, drawing directly on their insights, experiences and feedback to ensure that it reflects the realities of the role.
Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Chief Executive of NASP, said:
“There are many factors that affect our health and wellbeing that can’t be treated by doctors and medicine. Through social prescribing, health professionals and others can refer people to link workers, who have time to understand their circumstances and connect them to the best available support.
“But link workers often have low awareness of heritage opportunities, meaning patients may miss out. We hope this new training will help them build connections with local heritage projects so that many more people can benefit.”
"Heritage has a proven role in improving quality of life — from reducing stress to strengthening our sense of identity and belonging. By working with NASP, we're broadening access to those benefits and empowering communities to connect with their place and tell their stories. Historic England is grateful to the social prescribing link workers whose dedication makes this possible."
Hosted on NASP’s Social Prescribing Knowledge Gateway, the module will be followed by a series of interactive webinars offering deeper learning, real-world examples and space to explore how heritage can be embedded into local practice.
The module forms part of Historic England's wider commitments to health and wellbeing through heritage, complementing a growing range of heritage-based resources developed in partnership with NASP. [2]
NOTES:
[1] For more information on the evidence around heritage and social prescribing, see: Heritage and Social Prescribing - the evidence | NASP [
2] For information, guidance and examples of heritage projects, see: Heritage - National Academy for Social Prescribing | NASP
About The National Academy for Social Prescribing
The National Academy for Social Prescribing was established as a charity in 2019 to champion social prescribing. Our work includes:
- Connecting the social prescribing system
- Creating innovative partnership
- Boosting investment for frontline organisations delivering social prescribing.
- Building the evidence base
- Raising the profile of social prescribing through national campaigns.
Find out more: https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk
About Historic England
We are Historic England, the public body that protects and brings life to the heritage that matters to us all, so it lives on and is loved for longer. From the extraordinary to the everyday, our historic places and spaces matter. From community centres to cathedrals, homes to high streets, markets to mills – there are special places we all choose to hold onto, the legacy we want to pass on and the stories we continue to tell. That’s why we work together with people across England to discover, protect and bring new life to our shared historic environment, providing advice, knowledge, support and services. Follow us on social media @HistoricEngland.
