The Story So Far

• Supported hundreds of ‘Social Prescribing Clinical Champions’ working to raise awareness and champion social prescribing in 22 clinical and non-clinical disciplines.
  
  
• Delivered the £1.8 million Thriving Communities Fund supporting local communities across the country to deliver high impact social prescribing activities, engaging over 10,000 people.
  
  
• Led the delivery of the £5.77 million cross-Government Green Social Prescribing programme to scale up and embed nature-based social prescribing across local health systems. 
  
  
• Worked with Social Prescribing Link Workers to create resources that evaluate and demonstrate the impact of their work. 
  
  
• Worked with some of the country’s leading academics to collate robust research and to identify gaps in evidence. Our evidence shows that social prescribing can have a positive impact in many ways. And that it can save costs for the NHS. These reviews have helped to underpin policy and inform Government plans, including the Major Conditions Strategic Framework. 
   
• Generated huge interest in social prescribing across communities, industry, and Government. Social prescribing now plays a key role in the strategies and plans of many national organisations - including NAVCA, Sport England, Historic England, Natural England, Independent Age, Arts Council England, the National Centre for Creative Health and the Money and Pensions Service. 
  
  
• Raised awareness of social prescribing. Surveys show that social prescribing is increasingly understood by the public, with 19% of people in England recognising the term “social prescribing”. Government survey showed 97% of doctors feel “favourable” towards social prescribing in primary care.
  
  
• Connected 30 countries and the World Health Organisation for knowledge sharing and learning through our International Social Prescribing programme.
  
  
• Established a multi million pound fund for music and dementia and a framework for social prescribing shared investment funds. 
  
  
• Set up a Healthcare Integration Programme to support health and care providers and partnerships to embed social prescribing. 

Various academic research and studies including matched control have shown;  

• 12% Reductions in GP appointments  
  
  
• 15-20% Reduction in secondary care costs  
  
  
• Return on investment of £3.50 for £1 invested 
  
  
• Measurable improvements in wellbeing, physical and mental health  

• Government Environment Improvement Plan
• Suicide Prevention Strategy 
• NHS Workforce Strategy
• Government Major Conditions Strategy ‘Strategic Framework’ 

Our annual report includes a breakdown of how we have delivered on our mission. And how we have worked to meet the commitments set out in our strategic plan.