Social prescribing can play a crucial role in improving health and wellbeing, nationwide.  

• It helps people feel heard, valued, and understood,  
• It creates thriving communities, 
• It can support people who are most at risk of poor health,
• And it helps people get the most relevant and effective support available.

For some people, social prescribing provides an alternative to medication. For others it works alongside it. Either way, it can help tackle the root cause of many health and wellbeing issues. 

Watch: Josh and The Garden Project (Changing Lives)

Case study – Addressing loneliness and isolation

Case study – The positive impact of green and blue social prescribing (Thrive Centre4)

“I think every time we’ve had an appointment there’s been progress and it keeps me going in the right direction. I feel more like I’m on track. I know it’s a long journey but I’m feeling positive.”

– Patient (Social Prescribing at York CVS)

Social prescribing often begins with a referral from a GP, hospital, charity or other organisation to a Social Prescribing Link Worker.

Link workers listen to people and try to understand their situation, and what matters to them. They then “link” that person to organisations and information that can help.

There are also other people in the community, including charity workers, youth workers or faith leaders, who can identify people who might need support and help them connect to relevant activities, groups or services.

“I wish to praise the Social Practitioner for how she has helped me and still is. They puts me at ease and so helpful with my depression I only now suffer at times and listens then helps but has never rushed or pushed me into things that take me time to do. They were kind and very helpful and at the end of a phone if I’m in need.”

– Patient (Forum CIO)

It is estimated that almost a fifth of GP appointment time is spent on non-medical problems – including loneliness, isolation, relationship issues, or stress related to money or housing. Social prescribing gives doctors, organisations, and other professionals a way to help people, and address their problems more effectively. 

Evidence shows that social prescribing can take pressure off the NHS by reducing the need for GP appointments and for medical prescriptions. 

“At York City Centre PCN our Social Prescribers provide an invaluable service, supporting our patients with their medical and social needs and empowering them to manage their own conditions to improve their health and wellbeing.”

– GP at York Central

York’s Primary Care Link Workers recorded how many GP appointments and how many A&E visits a patient had 12 months before working with a social prescriber and then the 12 months after. Of those patients who agreed to be recorded, the team found that on average across the four Primary Care Networks individual patients experienced up to:

• 60% reduction in GP attendances with the patients that we have worked with.
• 75%  reduction in A&E attendances with the patients that we have worked with.

Many socially prescribed activities are run by voluntary and community organisations. These organisations are vital in the way they connect people with services and activities that make a difference. 

“The voluntary community sector has a big part to play in supporting people’s health and wellbeing and preventing them from getting to a crisis point.”

– Jane Hartley, National Academy for Social Prescribing

“Thank you for the opportunities you offer and the help believe I am only doing as good as I am because of this and the café that we first met at is like a little safe space”.

– Patient (Social Prescribing at Centre4)

Read: Community-led Social Prescribing Report January 2025 – This research explores the potential for greater community involvement in and leadership of social prescribing in England based on evidence from 20 different communities, including 12 Big Local areas.

Read: Celebrating the impact of Proactive Social Prescribing in York for Respiratory Health – Proactive Social Prescribing is a non-medical approach, offering tailored support to individuals to address challenges that impact their health and wellbeing. For people with respiratory conditions, this approach has been transformative. By connecting patients with services, community activities, and essential resources, the team helps people manage their conditions while improving their quality of life.

National Research – For the latest national research, visit the National Academy for Social Prescribing’s website to view a range of briefings and visual guides which provide evidence to the positive impact of social prescribing. Visit the webpage here.