More than £3.6m of Government funding has been awarded to the National Academy of Social Prescribing to support mental health and wellbeing.
Social prescribing can help those experiencing grief, addiction, dementia and loneliness through a wide range of community-led social activities and services that benefit people’s health and wellbeing.
This could include gardening clubs for people to socialise and learn new skills, new exercise classes to build confidence and become healthier, as well as financial advice for people with money worries, among many other initiatives.
The grant will support NASP to build on previous schemes such as the Thriving Communities Fund, which has established 36 projects helping more than 10,000 people.
Minister of state for care Helen Whatley said: ‘Social prescribing is an unsung hero in getting thousands of people the support they need to get through hard times - whether it be low self-esteem, dementia or loneliness.
‘I’m really pleased that we’ve agreed new funding for the National Academy of Social Prescribing, so it can continue the valuable work it does day in and day out to support the health of the country.’
Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, said: ‘We are delighted to have continued support from the Department for Health and Social Care, in recognition of the positive impact that social prescribing is having on the health and wellbeing of our communities.’
