On Friday the 4th of March, The National Academy of Social prescribing kicked off 2022’s Social Prescribing week with an in person and live streamed event at the Southbank Centre’s Purcell room. We were joined by host, Kamal Ellis-Hyman, founder of Aim A Little Higher and leading professionals involved with social prescribing both nationally and internationally.
So what is Social prescribing? Social prescribing is a means of enabling GP’s and other healthcare professionals to refer people to a range of non-clinical services, often held within the local community. Once referred, most patients then work with a local link worker to identify what scheme the individual may benefit from. This includes activities which may improve their mental health, wellbeing or reduce isolation through support with housing or finances, sports and cooking, but increasingly, arts and cultural activities.
The National Academy for Social prescribing (NASP) is an organisation dedicated to the advancement of Social Prescribing through promotion, collaboration and innovation.
The day was broken into 5 sessions including a half an hour active participation session led by Sunanda Biswas inspired by the SouthBank Centre’s monthly Mix and Move social dances, a core part of its arts and wellbeing programme as well as a tour of the South Bank centre’s Roof Garden led by Paul Pulford, Head Gardener and founder of Grounded Eco Therapy .
Session A: ‘Communicating the power of people’s stories’. Dr. Radha Modgil, the ambassador Lead for NASP chaired this conversation with Katrina Gargett from the York Archaeological Trust and Ann Diment, a change maker from work safe and well.
Session B: ‘Supporting the social prescribing Workforce’ was chaired by Bev Taylor, the Executive Director from strategy at NASP. She spoke to Gay Palmer, a link worker team lead from South Southwark PCN, Nic Gitsham, head of Social prescribing NHS England and Imporvement, Christina Melam, the Chief Exectitive of the National Association of Link Workers, Harminder bains, National programme lead at NHS England and Najnin Islam; Development at NASP.
Session C: ‘Innovation Through Partnership’. Chair, Ingrid Abreu Scherer, Head of Accelerating Innovation at NASP spoke to Dr Cheryle Berry; Co-team Leader at the Rotary GB&I, Micheal Shann; Head of Membership and Volunteering at Carers Uk , Brian Bow, Deputy Chief Exectitive, https://www.rethink.org/ and Alexandra Brierley; the Director of creative learning at the South Bank centre.
Session D: ‘Building a Global Social Prescribing Movement- Impact, Collaboration and Evidence consisted of a range of medical professionals who are large advocate for social prescribing with chair Dr Bogdan Chiva- Giurca stating ‘that he would not be in the medical profession if it wasn’t for Social Prescribing’.
He spoke with James Sanderson, the CEO of NASP, Delia Beck, DR Lee Kheng Hock, director of Education of Singapore’s Singhealth,
Dr kate Mulligan, Dalla Lana School of public health, Gareth Presch, CEO of the world health innovation summit. We also were joined by Dr Marie Polley, Dr Helen Seers, Professor Helen Chatterjee and Dr Ann Hunt who discussed gathering evidence in the Social Prescribing Sector.
Session E: Unleashing the power of local Communities consisted of a conversation between Joshua Ryan (Chair), who is the head of the Thriving communities fund, Amy Vaughan, Director of change programs at, Arts Council England , Desi Gradinarova and Helen Shearn; Heritage leads for NASP and the wonderful Stuart Cox, the Arts and Wellbeing director at st margaret’s house.
The whole day consisted of a continuous celebration of social prescribing advocates, link workers, volunteers and health and wellbeing centred organisations and outlined the future for social prescribing within the NHS and beyond including information from the national Academy for Social Prescribing’s Annual Report 2020/21.
Keep an eye out on our socials for more information on #SocialPrescribingWeek as we will be reposting more information about how you can get involved!
