The role of churches and faith groups in social prescribing
This morning, Theos and Church Works have published exciting new research looking at faith and social prescribing: Creating a Neighbourhood Health Service: The role of churches and faith groups in social prescribing.
If you’re not aware, social prescribing is an approach that connects people to non-clinical forms of support – whether community groups, befriending, financial support or specific activities like choirs or gardening. It’s a core part of the NHS’s goal to build a service around what really matters to people, not just meeting clinical needs. It recognises that our health is determined by a host of wider social factors such as where we live, our levels of social connection, finance, and education. Within social prescribing, a “link worker” is the person trained to listen to people and refer them on (and, if needed, accompany them) to further supports.
This new report is the culmination of over a year’s research involving surveys and in-depth interviews with link workers and faith communities. It finds that, with the wealth of activities and support services offered by faith groups there is immense potential for the faith sector to support and strengthen social prescribing, but that inclusion of faith-based activities within social prescribing is still not as widespread as it could or should be.
Crucially, whilst 85% of link workers surveyed were aware of groups or activities run or supported by faith groups, only 30% of those surveyed actively referred people to them.
We know there isn’t a single solution for how to better integrate this untapped potential (things are rarely that simple!) but the report recommends a range of ways that health systems and faith groups alike can more proactively network and build relationships that will stand the test of time.
Have a read of the report for yourself, here.
Social prescribing: a challenge and an opportunity
As the NHS is setting out plans for next 10 years we know that tackling the health inequalities that beset our society must be right at the top of the agenda. It is recognised that people living in deprived areas and people from minority ethnic communities are among those most at risk of facing worse health outcomes in the UK.
And we’ve become convinced that social prescribing is a core part of this conversation. Every community needs to know what it is, and how to access its benefits, and unless social prescribing actively seeks to address inequalities it runs the risk of making things worse.
‘Social Prescribing’ … My community will not recognise that. We have so much faith in the medical field, that they know best … So it’s about actually re-educating … That you can look after your wellbeing as well.”
- Leader of Muslim-led VCSE organisation
Through research on loneliness in 2019 we discovered that many of our members were simply not connected with social prescribing schemes, or even aware what it was. Our 2023 report Inclusive Social Prescribing, produced through the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, went into more detail, finding that four years on awareness of social prescribing was still low, but that there was immense potential to overcome some of the barriers to access.
We think that social prescribing is a great idea, but that there is still much more to do to ensure it can be fully utilised by the communities who will benefit most, and it’s clear that meaningful inclusion of faith communities can help with this.
What can you do?
If you lead or belong to a local faith community, you can start by:
- Having a read of Theos and Good Faith’s new report! The insights, case studies and practical recommendations it contains paint a vivid picture of what might be possible if faith-based groups are fully integrated into social prescribing schemes.
- Begin familiarising yourself with the local health landscape, and what social prescribing looks like near you. You could start by chatting to your local GP surgery, speaking to larger VCSE organisation in your area, or your Council for Voluntary Services (CVS).
- Find out which other faith and VCSE groups are involved in social prescribing near you. Are there other faith communities who receive referrals? Could you collaborate with them, or complement what they do?
- Determine what your core “offer” to social prescribing might be. Which parts of the local community do you work with, and what kind of activities do you provide? Might it be relevant to all of the community, or just for people of a particular faith or interest? Being clear about what it is you do, and what it is you don’t do, will help when talking with local social prescribers.
Finally, please get in touch with us to share your experiences. Have you supported social prescribing schemes, or would you like to? Is social prescribing a new concept to you, or very familiar?
