UK Gov Commits £5m to Support Wellbeing Post COVID-19
August 21, 2020
The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has been awarded £5 million in funding to support people to stay connected and maintain their health and wellbeing following the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. The funding will be spent on community activities including football, singing, art and improving green spaces.
The practice, known as ‘social prescribing’, has been shown to improve patients’ quality of life, health and wellbeing by treating them holistically, recognising that health is affected by a range of social, economic and environmental factors.
NASP funds and supports innovative local community partnerships, share good practice and raise the profile of social prescribing link workers (SPLW), who work as part of the UK’s National Healthcare Service (NHS).
Social prescribing is a core part of the NHS approach to delivering targeted Personalised Care and is currently being expanded across England. The National Academy for Social Prescribing is a new independent organisation, launched in October 2019, that aims to create a ‘social revolution in wellbeing’.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, James Sanderson, says, “Now more than ever, the pandemic has shown the value of social prescribing in helping people to stay connected, feel supported and to maintain their wellbeing.”
Working with partners, including the Arts Council England, Natural England, Money and Pensions Service, NHS Charities Together, Sport England and NHS England, the academy will support a range of local community activities.
These projects include:
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Football: Newcastle United Foundation ‘Be a Game Changer’ programme and ‘12th Man’ programme which work to support men with mental health issues
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Art by Post: created under lockdown, the Southbank Centre sends free creative activity booklets to people across the UK who are living with dementia and other chronic health conditions
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Improved green spaces: link workers refer and connect people to their local wildlife and wider activities including food growing, healthy cooking, wildlife gardening, environmental art and crafts, music workshops, and beekeeping
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Singing: English National Opera (ENO) have partnered with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to devise an integrated 6-week pilot programme of singing, breathing and wellbeing aimed at supporting and enhancing the recovery of COVID-19 survivors
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Money advice: the Money and Pensions Service and Mental Health UK have created a Money Support Pack for people who need support with their mental health as a result of COVID-19
“This new funding is hugely important, as it will allow us to build on the merits of social prescribing and encourage innovation in local projects, as well as supporting people to remain connected with their local community, reduce loneliness and improve their wellbeing,” said Minister for Health Jo Churchill.