The Sir Halley Stewart Trust and The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) announce a new two-year special initiative to strengthen the contribution of faith communities to social prescribing across England.
Funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust and supported by the Good Faith Partnership (GFP), the project will create a Strategic Lead for Faith and Social Prescribing role within NASP.
Social prescribing, according to the National Health Service, connects people with community activities and services to improve wellbeing. A fifth of the time spent by general practitioners is currently used addressing non-medical needs such as loneliness or debt.
Churches and other places of worship already play a significant role in meeting these needs, particularly in disadvantaged areas. Their work includes food banks, support groups and advice services—resources that align closely with social prescribing goals.