PenARC researchers in the field of social prescribing are leading a new partnership to ensure that evidence of the impact of social prescribing is accessible, useful and compelling.
As outlined in the National Academy for Social Prescribing’s Strategic Plan, A Social Revolution in Wellbeing, there is a large and growing evidence base supporting the benefits of social prescribing for people’s health and wellbeing, however it is not comprehensive nor always easy to access. This poses an obstacle to the future growth of social prescribing at a time when demand is growing, especially to support those most impacted by COVID-19. To address this, the establishment of new academic partnership for social prescribing has been announced today by the National Academy for Social Prescribing, bringing together a collaborative of some of the leading researchers in this field to help build an evidence base that is more accessible, useful and compelling.
The academic partnership and the Academy will work closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement and other partners, to share existing evidence more effectively, and with focus on outcomes for people, local systems and communities. It will be led by the University of Plymouth’s National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula and includes: The Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, based in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care, University of Oxford; University of East London; Sheffield Hallam University; The Social Prescribing Network; University of the West of England; and University College London and the National Centre for Creative Health.
