Social Prescribing

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    Social prescribing is where you are prescribed, by a health or care professional, activity, exercise or services within your community to improve your physical health and mental wellbeing. It can be used alongside medication and other forms of treatment, or without. It’s also known as a community referral.

    The goal of social prescribing is to help people take greater control of their own health and wellbeing.

    Who social prescribing for

    Social prescribing is for everyone, but it works particularly well for people who:

    • Have or more long term conditions
    • Need support with low level mental health issues
    • Experience loneliness or isolation
    • Have complex social needs that affect their wellbeing
    • Have mental health conditions
    • Frequently attend primary or secondary healthcare

    Social prescribing can also help those who are in other at risk groups, such as older people with dementia, people experiencing homelessness, refugees and asylum seekers, and young people.

    How it works

    1. A health or care professional will refer you to a social prescribing service. You are given an appointment with a Link Worker. They may also be known as a social prescriber, connector, navigator or enabler, or a health advisor
    2. They will spend time with you to understand your needs and interests.  Together you create your personal plan to decide what activities will help you
    3. Link workers can support you to attend activities in the community, until you feel confident to attend independently
    4. You are connected to activities in your community that you’re interested in. This could include activities like cooking classes, gardening, art, music, exercise, lunch clubs, or volunteering
    5. Further appointments and continued support are available if you need it.

    Who can refer you

    Access to social prescribing services can come from a few different routes, including:

    • Your GP surgery
    • If you are receiving other care in hospital
    • Social care services
    • Local charities and community services
    • The police
    • Fire services
    • Job centres

    If you are unsure where to start, contact your local GP surgery. Depending on your needs, you may not need to make an appointment with your GP.

    Support is available for refugee and asylum seeker patients who have not been granted their right to remain status yet. These link workers are in temporary hotel accommodation sites to provide social and practical support to this patient group.

    What kinds of social prescribing are available?

    There are four main kinds of social prescribing support:

    • Arts, culture and heritage, such as music, art groups, and museum projects
    • Physical activity
    • Education and welfare support, such as employment support, financial advice and fuel poverty support
    • Natural environment support, such as gardening and nature walks

    Being active, trying new things and meeting new people can have a really positive effect on your physical and mental health.

    Taking part in a social group can help you to feel supported and connected to others. Giving you the chance to make friends with similar interests.

    Learning a new skill or trying a new hobby can help to increase your confidence.

    Volunteering your time and skills can help you to feel valued.

    Joining a walking group or community gym can help you to be more active and help to improve your health.

    Your local social prescribing service

    Speak to your GP surgery to find out how it works in your area. There are a range of social prescribing services in Newcastle. You may be referred to one of these by your GP or health professional:

    Activities and events in your neighbourhood

    You can find local activities and support in your community on InformationNOW. Read more about what’s going on in your neighbourhood and across Newcastle:

    Find what’s going on near you in our

    Primary Care Networks (PCNs)

    Social Prescribing is an important part of the NHS 10 Year Long Term Plan. NHS England has rolled out funding and social prescribing link workers have been appointed to the following geographical locations, known as Primary Care Networks (PCNs).

    PCNs are groups of GP Practices that work together with a range of local services. This includes services in primary care, social care and the voluntary and community sector. Each GP Practice in Newcastle is a member of one of these Primary Care Networks. Each PCN has a Board and GP representative. The population for each PCN is between 30 and 50,000 people who are registered with a GP Practice in that area. Each PCN has a plan to help support the people in their area.

    Each PCN will focus on developing services in their communities that meet the needs of their residents. Services include: action on diabetes, counselling, eating well, weight management, early physiotherapy conversations, support for people with a learning disability, mental health occupational therapy and wellbeing support. Read more about PCNs on the NHS England website.

    You can see the list of GP surgeries in each of the PCN areas in Newcastle below:

    Outer West PCN 

    West End Family Health PCN

    Inner West PCN

    North Gosforth PCN

    Jesmond Lower/Gosforth PCN

    East PCN

    Central PCN

    Last updated: July 10, 2026