What Is Social Prescribing?
Social prescribing is a way of helping people improve their health and wellbeing by connecting them with non-medical support in their local community—like social groups, creative activities, exercise, practical support, or counselling.
Instead of just treating symptoms, it focuses on what matters to the person. Social prescribing link workers work one-to-one with individuals to understand their needs and co-create a plan that supports their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
It’s especially helpful for people who may be:
- Living with long-term conditions
- Feeling lonely or isolated
- Dealing with stress, anxiety, or low mood
- Facing practical or social challenges affecting their health
How It Works
People are referred to a social prescribing link worker by their GP, healthcare team, or local support services. Link workers offer time, support, and access to tailored local resources.
They also work with community groups to make sure support is inclusive, sustainable, and able to meet the needs of local people.
Social Prescribing in the NHS
The NHS has made a major commitment to social prescribing as part of its Personalised Care approach. Thousands of social prescribing link workers are now part of GP practices and community health teams.
By 2023/24, the NHS aims to support at least 900,000 people through social prescribing, recognising that health is about more than medicine.
Working Together
Social prescribing is supported nationally by the NHS and organisations like the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), which brings together health, social care, arts, culture, sports and the voluntary sector to build a more connected, person-centred system.
Read More: Social Prescribing through the NHS