Social prescribing initiatives prove their worth 

Over the past few years Somerset has become a leader throughout the UK in the field of social prescribing. Stepladder’s Michael Payne went along to a recent event that brought colleagues together to share experiences.   

Stepladder is a mental health and wellbeing project about connection. Connecting men who may be finding life difficult to activities, groups and support in their local community. That’s why when volunteering organisation, Spark Somerset, hosted the Live Well in Somerset event, a celebration of social prescribing at Taunton Cricket Club, Stepladder was keen to meet and learn from others in the sector who put this approach at the centre of their work. 

The event brought together experts, speakers, community workers and the voluntary sector for a range of interactive workshops and talks around the initiative, including sessions led by Dr Michael Dixon, GP and Chair of the College of Medicine and Integrated Health and Charlotte Osborn from the National Association of Social Prescribing who talked about the vital role social prescribing plays in improving community health and wellbeing. 

What is social prescribing?

There are many things in life that can affect our health that can’t be treated by doctors and medical professionals alone. We all know that stress, poor housing, or money worries can affect how we feel both physically and mentally and faced with these challenges it can be difficult to also manage existing health conditions or find the help we need to change our circumstances. That is where social prescribing comes in. It aims to empower people to take action to look after themselves, to find support from others by reducing isolation and grow in confidence, so that they can navigate life with a more positive frame of mind.  

This could be helping someone who is feeling lonely to find local groups where they can meet people, highlighting physical activities that may target particular health problems or signposting a service that can support them to negotiate better living conditions with their landlord.  

Social prescribing not only helps people to live their best life, but it reduces health inequalities and the impact on the NHS by connecting people who need help with the voluntary and community groups in their area. This can be done by a GP, hospital, care worker, charity volunteers or faith leaders. It is about linking people, making a plan and finding support. 

‘It was great to see so many different organisations looking to build trust and connection,’ says Michael.  

‘For Stepladder it was a chance to experience how the social prescribing model aligns with what we are trying to raise awareness about, with the focus on promoting wellbeing through community groups and activities rather than solely treating illness through clinical prescribing. This holistic support enriches communities, promotes wellbeing and reduces pressure on the NHS.’

How can Stepladder help?

Stepladder focuses its community development work on men. It is a project that shows social prescribing in action as it signposts men to groups that can breakdown some of the barriers that get in the way of men investing in their wellbeing. We know that one size doesn’t fit all, so by also offering lots of resources on men’s mental health and wellbeing, Stepladder can help men to find support before they get to crisis point.  

Visit our interactive map full of groups and activities across Somerset to get those conversations going with the right people.