What is Social Prescribing?
Social prescribing supports you to focus on improving your wellbeing through meeting new people and trying new activities in your local community.
There are a wide range of community groups and networks in Tameside and Glossop delivering activities, sessions, meetings and events. These groups focus on supporting local people and the community. Activities and services include:
- coffee mornings
- walking clubs
- debt support and counselling
- age 50+ social groups
Your social prescriber will start by getting to know you, what you would like to do, what your interests are and what community support you feel you need. Over the phone, by video call or in person, they can talk about ways to connect safely with local people and groups at your own pace, your social prescriber can give you the information you need to re-connect with your community.
Who is the service for?
This free service is open to Tameside and Glossop residents over 18 years of age who would like support with making connections and improving their wellbeing. People who could benefit from social prescribing include people who are experiencing the following:
- Anxiety
- Loss of confidence
- Low mood
- Loneliness
- Life changing events such as bereavement, new born, retirement
- Long term health conditions
- Poor health linked to housing
- Challenges with finances, work or relationships
What are the benefits?
- Improve mental and physical health
- Meet new people
- Participate in new activities
- Increase self esteem
- Access work, training and volunteering
Examples of how Social Prescribing is helping people in Tameside and Glossop
John is shielding and because of his health conditions he has been almost isolated for over 2yrs, but he had never thought to reach out for support with this. His social prescribing officer told him about some different local organisations, and he felt confident enough to be referred to a befriending service that is based within a local church, near his home. They matched him with a volunteer who will get to know him on the phone and will be able to visit him at home once restrictions are lifted. The social prescribing team will keep working with John for a short time to ensure that these new connections continue to grow and flourish and to support him make new connections so that he no longer feels isolated from his local community.
Penny is in her 70’s and lives alone, she was referred to social prescribing by her GP. She told her link worker that she has been struggling with anxiety for some time, but that lockdown has made it worse. She is on a waiting list for counselling but needs some social connections too. Her link worker has taken time to build a rapport with her, she enjoys knitting and she is building up her confidence to let her link worker connect her to some local groups, even if it is just by phone for now.
Zadie is an asylum seeker, she has been in the UK for 15 years and has a young daughter. She is shielding due to her thyroid condition and her social prescribing link worker supported her to connect to a volunteer to help with her shopping as she has no local family or friends to support her. Her link worker talked to her about her normal routine, she is involved in an international charity but does not normally have time to socialise and doesn’t volunteer locally. She has agreed she would like to be connected to Tameside’s voluntary sector BAME support groups, including the recently formed Refugee & Asylum Seeker network. This is for her to find ways to use her skills and experience to volunteer and support people locally.
If you think you could benefit from Social Prescribing then please click here if you are a Tameside resident.
If you are a Glossop resident please click here to find out more about accessing Social Prescribing in Glossop
