Adopting more community-centred practice can help provide more appropriate and effective ways of engaging people and improving their health and wellbeing.

Those who find themselves excluded from society, discriminated against, or lacking power and control because of living in extreme poverty, can be the least likely to access and benefit from services - despite often having the worst health. For this reason, they are an essential way of reducing health inequalities within a local area or community. Ĭommunity-centred ways of working can be more effective than more traditional services in improving the health and wellbeing of marginalised groups and vulnerable individuals. There are many different models for social prescribing, but most involve a link worker or navigator who works with people to access local sources of support. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports. Social prescribing schemes can involve a variety of activities which are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations. It also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health. Recognising that people’s health is determined primarily by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way. Social prescribing - sometimes referred to as community referral - is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other health and care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. Start the social prescribing e-learning session.

Social booth guide