This month Bromsgrove District Council and ONSIDE are marking one year since a successful wellbeing service was launched in the district.

The partners are celebrating almost twelve months since the opening of Bromsgrove Social Prescribing Service in line with national Social Prescribing Day which takes place on March 10.

In Bromsgrove, four link workers have helped 193 people to get back to some form of normality after the pressures, restrictions, and challenges of the past two years. The service, which is run in partnership with ONSIDE, connects residents with Social Prescribing Link Workers through a self-referral process. The link worker then provides them with a face-to-face conversation during which they can learn about activities in their communities and design their own personalised solutions to life struggles.

Research suggests that 1 in 5 people go to their GP with non-medical issues which can be helped through schemes like Social Prescribing instead. Research also states that within 3 to 4 years, Social Prescribing schemes have reduced the pressures on GP appointments by up to 40%.

Here's what some of the Social Prescribing clients think about the service:

“I'm so grateful...it's nice to be able to talk to someone and get some perspective.”

“Honestly, I can't thank you enough for your time, patience and advice. I have never felt pressured but feel I've made great progress.”

“Social prescribing has pointed me in the right direction, rather than me floundering around not knowing what to do and what is available. I have all the information I need when I am ready to use it.”

“You have helped me enormously over these past few weeks, knowing someone will listen to me without judgement. I know you'll call and that's like my routine if I am feeling down.”

A ‘social prescription’ is provided so that people with social, emotional, or practical needs are empowered to find solutions which will improve their health and wellbeing, often using services provided by the voluntary and community sector.

Social Link Worker, Antonia Whitlock, said: “We are all really proud of what has been achieved over the past twelve months, but the real success is the people who have come through the service and turned their lives around."

“It’s been a terrible, anxiety filled, couple of years so helping people to reconnect with their community and feel more confident about the future has been extremely rewarding for us and really beneficial to our clients."

“We are here to help guide people back to happier life in the wake of the pandemic, so if you're struggling and want help to develop a 1-2-1 plan of action for your future, please just give us a call.”

The service had a soft launch in March 2021 before officially opening on May 13 in line with Mental Health Awareness Week.

Social Prescribing is an innovative and growing movement, with the potential to reduce the financial burden on the NHS and particularly on primary care.

ONSIDE is a local charity working across Worcestershire and Herefordshire, providing a wide range of support services to ensure fairness and equality for all members of the community who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or discriminated against.

For more about Social Prescribing Day on March 10, check out the council’s social media feeds or go to the National Academy for Social Prescribing website