Social Prescribing

Page contents:

    Useful organisations Related articles

    Social Prescribing is where you are prescribed, by a health professional, activity or exercise to improve your physical health and mental wellbeing. It can be used instead of medication or with other forms of treatment. It’s also known as a community referral.

    Who’s Social Prescribing for

    Social Prescribing works well for people with:

    • mild or long term mental wellbeing issues
    • long term health conditions such as: multiple sclerosis, diabetes, heart disease or people who need to lose weight
    • loneliness and isolation
    • social or emotional needs
    • who make repeat visits to health care services

    How it works

    1. GPs, nurses, social workers or healthcare professionals 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 an enabler
    2. They work with you to understand your needs and interests.  Together you create your personal plan to decide what activities you want to try
    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, cooking classes, gardening, art, music, exercise, lunch clubs, volunteering
    5. Further appointments and continued support are available if you need it.

    How it can help you

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

    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 doctor or GP 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:

    How Social Prescribing works in Newcastle

    Social Prescribing is a partnership between health services and the voluntary and community sector. Newcastle has benefited from Social Prescribing for a number of years. It was piloted in the West of the city and other areas are now using it.

    Social prescribing navigators can signpost you to support and activities in your community. This can include, help with benefits, housing, lifestyle, mobility, social activities and more.

    Link workers can support you to access activities in your community. They may give you one to one support to help improve your confidence to take part in the activities, if you need it.

    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: May 24, 2024