For example, at the Bromley by Bow Centre, a community and primary care hub in east London with a long history of social prescribing and other community-focused work, staff work with people, often over several sessions, to help them get involved with local services ranging from swimming lessons to financial advice services. Most involve a link worker (other terms such as community connector, navigator and health adviser are also used) who works with people to access local sources of support. There are different models of social prescribing being employed across England. Those who could benefit from social prescribing schemes include people with mild or long-term mental health problems, people with complex needs, people who are socially isolated and those with multiple long-term conditions who frequently attend either primary or secondary health care. Social prescribing is designed to support people with a wide range of social, emotional or practical needs, and many schemes are focused on improving mental health and physical wellbeing. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports. Schemes delivering social prescribing can involve a range of activities that 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 and wellbeing are determined mostly by a range of social, economic and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way. The referrals generally, but not exclusively, come from professionals working in primary care settings, for example, GPs or practice nurses. Social prescribing, also sometimes known as community referral, is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services.

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