This week, Christian think tank, Theos, have published a new report into social prescribing.
At a time when the NHS is “in crisis” – but 1 in 5 GP appointments deal with problems that are social rather than strictly medical – social prescribing “helps patients by referring them to local community activities to tackle the social and relational needs underlying their health issues.”
Put simply social prescribing is connecting people to groups and activities in their community that will improve their health and wellbeing – such as lunch clubs, warm spaces, and debt support services. The people who facilitate these connections are NHS contracted “Social Prescribers,” while those who provide the groups and activities often include faith groups. A number of diocesan churches, who provide such services as part of their usual mission and ministry, are leaning into social prescribing already.
The Bishop of London, who has written the foreword to Theos’ report, is a strong advocate of social prescribing and the role that churches and faith groups can play. She comments:
There is a faith group present in every community. Indeed, faith observance is higher in areas where deprivation is higher. If we are serious in the task of reducing health inequalities, faith groups are essential partners in this work.
Learn more:
- Time-pressed readers can find a summary of the report’s findings here.
- To mark the report, the Compassionate Communities Team has put together a new toolkit for churches to get involved in social prescribing in their area.
- Theos have also produced a more detailed “how to” guide for faith leaders, which can be downloaded here. This includes a template that church staff can fill out, detailing the relevant activities of their church, to share with their local social prescribers.
What is Social Prescribing?
Top Image by Emily Ikoshi from Theos Think Tank.