Active Essex has been awarded one of seven host counties to hold a social prescribing role in the physical activity sector. Social prescribing is when health professionals refer patients to support in the community, in order to improve their health and wellbeing.
Active Essex joined the National Academy for Social Prescribing to launch their new Thriving Communities programme, celebrating and supporting the work of local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups across the country who are supporting communities most impacted by COVID19. The virtual event, that takes place at 12 noon on 10 November 2020, brings together local groups and organisations to recognise and share their work to support people through COVID19, embracing new ways of involving citizens, simple acts of kindness, and community action which helps people to build on their strengths and community assets.
To further the regions holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing, Active Essex along with other key partners, are currently recruiting for a Physical Activity Social Prescribing Advisor to cover the East region 2 days a week, and Essex 3 days a week. They will help influence local commissioning strategies for social prescribing, maximise opportunities, and be an advocate for the role of physical activity in the achievement of positive health and wellbeing for people.
Kelly Harman, Health and Wellbeing at Active Essex said; “This role plays an important part in supporting communities most impacted by Covid-19. This will be facilitated by building connections between social prescribers and the community physical activity offer, direct mentoring and support around the strategic engagement with commissioners and embedding physical activity within existing pathways. This is a great step towards working more cohesively within the Greater Essex ecosystem.”
Sian Brand, Social Prescribing Associate said: “Social prescribing and connecting people to their communities has never been more important than in these challenging times. It is our hope that social prescribing will help bring together some amazing opportunities and activities, supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing by getting active and grow further this social movement by sharing good practice”.
Dr William Bird, Physical Activity Advisor for the Essex Local Delivery Pilot and Active Essex, began important conversations around how to embed physical activity into social prescribing and link worker pathways, via a webinar last week. The Preparing for a Challenging Winter: How to Build Resilience with your Patients webinar had 110 number of social prescribers attend and was successful in beginning to infiltrate this messaging and echoing the importance of physical activity on residents’ lives, now more than ever.
For further information on the Thriving Communities event, click here
To find more information and to apply for the social prescribing role, click here
