More than £3.6 million of government funding awarded to the National Academy of Social Prescribing to support wellbeing, including impacts of loneliness
Thousands of people will continue to access innovative types of mental health support, proven to improve healthy living, reduce overprescribing and save capacity for GPs, following £3.6 million of government funding for the National Academy of Social Prescribing (NASP).
Social prescribing can help those experiencing grief, addiction, dementia and loneliness through a wide range of community-led social activities, services and opportunities that have proven benefits to people’s health and wellbeing.
This could include gardening clubs for people to socialise and learn new skills, new exercise classes to build confidence and become healthier, as well as financial advice for people with money worries, among many other initiatives.
The grant will support NASP to build on its previous successes such as the Thriving Communities Fund, which has established 36 projects helping more than 10,000 people and championing local community and voluntary groups.
It has also introduced an academic collaboration to develop a robust evidence base for social prescribing and the benefits it can bring to the nation’s health. It will continue to build innovative partnerships between the health system and the voluntary sector to ensure that social prescribing reaches those most in need.
With Christmas approaching and many people feeling the negative impacts of loneliness over the festive period, social prescribing provides people with the tools to help manage their mental health and meet others in their community.
Minister of State for Social Care, Helen Whatley, said:
Minister for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield, said:
In 2019, the government set out a manifesto commitment to extend social prescribing and expand the NASP.
Examples of the opportunities that could be bolstered by the funding include:
Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, Chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, said:
Minister for Equalities, Stuart Andrew, said:
James Sanderson, Director of Personalised Care and Community Services at NHS England, said:
Case Study
Social prescribing can help people with a wide range of issues, including grief, and support those battling addiction.
Dale, who lives in North London, recently joined the Men’s Woodwork Group, run by St Margaret’s House – who also received a grant from the Thriving Communities fund. After leaving rehab, where he received treatment to help with alcohol and drug addiction, the group has given Dale a space to connect and be creative.
He said:
Background Information
The National Academy for Social Prescribing is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of social prescribing through promotion, collaboration and innovation. It works 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. It will champion social prescribing and the work of local communities in connecting people for wellbeing.
National Academy for Social Prescribing and the Power of Music report