Healthy Community Fair: exploring the social prescribing needs of rural communities

TThe potential for SP may be more restricted in rural areas. Consulting those living in these areas is key to developing a programme of research to meet their needs and priorities.

We aim to engage as many members of this rural community as possible, including families, older people and those with disabilities. This will help us gain an understanding about how SP can be shaped to make a difference to health and well-being in their community and across different life stages.

Aims

Test out creative approaches to engaging members of the public, across age groups, and in innovative settings, in discussions about SP and its role in rural settings

Involvement

Identify research and implementation priorities for SP in rural areas for those living in such a community
Identify and build relationships with community champions to establish connections for future research

Social prescribing (SP) is a key policy initiative for the NHS. It seeks to address people’s non-clinical problems (e.g. money or housing issues, loneliness), which have been shown to increase physical and mental ill-health, through a range of activities (e.g. befriending, cultural events, luncheon clubs). Evidence suggests that SP depends on availability of local services, which are often based in urban areas. Less attention has been given to SP for people in rural areas. These individuals may struggle to access and engage in SP activities, risking greater social isolation and health inequalities. We are developing a programme of research on SP programmes for rural areas. Our work may help address and reduce inequalities in access to SP.