Social Prescribing

What is Social Prescribing?

Social prescribing is a national NHS England programme, and is a way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Social prescribing works for a wide range of people, including people:

  • with one or more long-term conditions
  • who need support with their mental health
  • who are lonely or isolated
  • who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Southern Brooks, in partnership with DHI, has been commissioned to deliver support within GP Practices in South Gloucestershire. Our Social Prescribing Link Workers are based within the Practice, and GPs can refer patients directly to them. Patients are offered 4-6 one-to-one appointments with their Link Worker, who will help them to access relevant services, support, and community groups.

NHS England has produced a summary guide to Social Prescribing, which you can read here.

If you would like to be referred to a Social Prescribing Link Worker, please speak to your GP.


Social Prescribing During Covid-19

The Social Prescribing Service is continuing to run remotely throughout the COVID-19 social distancing measures.

The link workers continue to be able to access, sign post and refer into the necessary services to improve people’s wellbeing.

Social Prescribing was designed to reduce levels of social isolation, and despite current restrictions we are continuing to do so. Social distancing measures do not mean that we have to be disconnected and the link workers are working with people that are struggling through this period.

We have been helping people struggling with their children during school closure, helping with money and welfare issues, including helping to secure grants for those in financial hardship,  and have gained support for mental health and well-being from a variety of organisations and community groups.

Now that restrictions are lifting, and the weather is bright, our link workers are meeting people out in their communities for face to face conversations in open spaces where social distancing measures can be followed safely.

We are busy building a portfolio of ‘green’ activities and community groups that can be joined and enjoyed while adhering to government advice.


Community Groups

Food Banks

East Bristol Food bank (Kingswood Outlet)

When: Mondays 11am-1pm
Where: Bourne Christian Centre, Waters Road BS15 8BE

Web: eastbristol.foodbank.org.uk
Email: [email protected]

Respite Care

Hop Skip and Jump Bristol

What: immediate and flexible respite care for children and young adults with disabilities and SEN. Able to cater for up to 60 children a day, providing a variety of groups and activities for them to engage with, indoor and outdoor play facilities, all with an emphasis on self-development and discovery.
Where: Grimsbury Road, Kingswood BS15 9SE

Tel: 0117 967 7282
Web: hopskipandjump.org.uk
Email: supervisor.southwest @hopskipandjump.org.uk

Domestic Abuse

Survive – Working towards freedom from Domestic Abuse

What: Survive is an innovative local charity working towards freedom from domestic abuse for children, young people and families in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Offering practical and emotional support, information and education for children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence and abuse.

Address: PO Box 61, Kingswood BS15 8XJ
Tel: 0117 9613065 office
Tel: 0808 2000247 support
Web: survivedv.org.uk

Stopping Smoking

Stop Smoking in Kingswood

Where: The Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood BS15 4AR

Tel: 01454 865502
Web: www.southglos.gov.uk/smokefree
Email: [email protected]

Learning Difficulties

Singing group – Kingswood

What: singing group for adults with learning difficulties
Where: The Hive 324, 322 Two Mile Hill Road, BS15 1AJ
When: From 11.00am – 12.00pm On the Last Friday of each month

Contact: Adele Hooper
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01761 470006


Support for Medical Conditions

Brain Tumour Support

What: Charity offering an individualised support service which provides specialist information, practical guidance, emotional support, help coping with bereavement and much more.

Address: First Floor, 29a High Street, Thornbury BS35 2AR
Tel: 01454 414355
Web: www.braintumoursupport.co.uk
Email: [email protected]

Pituitary Support

What: The group aims to provide support for patients with pituitary disorders, their families and carers.
When: Third Wednesday of every month, except July and August
Where: The Academic Centre, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, at 7.30pm.

Contact Chairman: Jenny West, 3 Chipping Close, Symn Lane, Wotton-Under-Edge, Glos. GL12 7BB
Tel: 01454 843497 (home) or 07919 620498.
For publicity, please contact: Jenny Fumpson, Tanglewood, 4B Highfield Drive, Redcliffe Bay, Portishead, N. Somerset, BS20 8JG,
Tel: 01275 847286.
Email: [email protected]

Singing for the Brain, Kingswood

What: singing group for people with dementia and their carers
Where: Kingswood Community Centre, The Arch
High Street, Kingswood, BS15 4AB

Tel: 0117 961 0693
Email: [email protected]

Memory Café Hanham

What: Friendly café for people with dementia and their carers
Where: Hanham Community Centre,
High Street, Hanham, BS15 3EJ

Tel: 0117 961 0693
Email: [email protected]

Deaf, Deafblind, Deafened and Hard of Hearing Group

What: The main aim of the meeting is to ensure that service users experiencing hearing loss have a chance to influence change in local services.  We also discuss how to remove barriers and accessibility issues, which make it difficult for people experiencing hearing loss, to live an independent life. We do this by holding a meeting with key partners, statutory organisations, voluntary and community faith sector and service users.
When: The Group meet on a quarterly basis
Where: Badminton Road council offices.

Contact: Kim Lewis
Tel: 01454 86 8259
Email: [email protected]

GDA

What: We provide practical support to people who have been born deaf and those who become deaf or hard of hearing later in life. Our aim is to give back choice and control to people who cannot access the kind of everyday services and information hearing people take for granted.

Contact: GDA, Colin Road, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3JL
Web: www.gda.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01452 372999 Mob / Text: 07875610860

Action on Hearing Loss

What: Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) is a national charity helping people confronting deafness, tinnitus and hearing loss to live the life they choose.  We campaign to change public perception and policy around hearing loss issues, fund research into hearing loss and tinnitus and deliver information and support services across the country.  In South Gloucestershire, we are a member of the Deaf, Deafblind, Deafened and Hard of Hearing Group and we are keen to continue to foster strong links with other organisations supporting deaf and hard of hearing people in the area.

Tel: 0808 808 0123
Textphone: 0808 808 9000
SMS: 07800 000 360
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk

Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People

What: We provide advice and practical support to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Bristol and the surrounding areas. We work to promote social inclusion and independence and focus on removing communication barriers so that Deaf and Hard of Hearing people can participate more fully in all aspects of their day-to-day lives.

Contact: The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, BS16 2QQ
Tel: 0117 9398653
Text / Facetime: 07749 313085
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.cfd.org.uk


Carers

Carers Support Centre

What: Carers Support Centre provides a range of practical services for carers of all ages in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. It also provides a voice for carers and gives advice on making organisations more carer aware. Covering Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Tel: 0117 965 2200
Web: www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk
Email: carersline @carerssupportcentre.org.uk

South Gloucestershire Carers’ Choir

What: Small group made up of carers in the South Gloucestershire area.
When: Wednesdays 1-3pm at Kingswood Community Centre and Yate (Tuesdays at the Parish Hall 10.30am-12.30pm) alternately.
Where: Kingswood Community Centre, High Street, Kingswood BS15 4AB

Email: [email protected]

Carers groups

Web: http://www.southglos.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/carers/draft-support-carers/


Older people

Contact the Elderly 

What: Supported by a network of volunteers, Contact the Elderly organises monthly Sunday afternoon gatherings for small groups of older people aged 75 and over who are dealing with loneliness and social isolation. Once a month, normally on a Sunday afternoon, each older guest is collected from their home by a Volunteer Driver, and taken to a Volunteer Host’s home, where they join a small group for refreshments, talk and companionship. The group is warmly welcomed by a different host each month, but the charity’s drivers and older guests remain the same. This means that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.

Tel: 01225 873812
Email: helen.ker @contact-the-elderly.org.uk


Additional Services

Libraries

Did you know our libraries provide books in large print, e-magazines and e-books? Any formats can be ordered, including braille. For more information about what the libraries provide, please visit: http://www.southglos.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/libraries

Bristol Mind

MindLine – 0808 808 0330:  Confidential freephone helpline offers a safe space to talk is you or someone you know is in distress.  As all our volunteers undergo an intense listening training, this could be offered in lieu of counselling.  Open from 8pm – Midnight Wednesday – Sunday.  Please note that we will be closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.  https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline/

MindLine Trans+ – 0300 330 5468:  Confidential non-judgmental support line for those who identify as transgender, non-binary or are exploring their gender identity.  We also support family and friends and can sign-post to services nearby.  https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline-transplus/

Training:  https://bristolmind.org.uk/training/

Hate Crime Service: https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/hate-crime-service/

Women Without Borders:  https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mind-without-borders-working-in-the-community/

Advocacy: https://bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/outreach-advocacy/

Meeting Minds Counselling:  https://bristolmind.org.uk/counselling/meeting-minds/


Green Prescribing

Health Benefits of Green and Blue Spaces

Studies are consistently showing that spending time in parks and other green spaces has a significant impact on both mental and physical health.

Visiting local neighbourhood green spaces has shown high health benefits not just for adults but also children, especially behaviour and attention problems.

Benefits Include:
· Improved mental health
· Reduction in depressive symptoms
· Reduced prevalence in Type II Diabetes
· Improved sleep
· Weight loss
· Less Stress

Q: What are Green Spaces?
A: Any outdoor areas with green areas, such as parks, countryside, woods or nature reserves.

Q: What about blue?
A: Any areas around water! Studies indicate that you don’t have to be in the water to benefit from it—evidence suggests that exposure to blue spaces improves wellbeing .

How Does Social Prescribing Fit in?

Social Prescribing Link Workers can help sign– post you to an activity that is right for you. By putting you in control and focusing on “What Matters to me” the link workers can help build a programme of activity designed specifically for you.

Q: What if my anxiety prevents me from trying something new?
A: Your Link Worker can accompany you to activities and groups. They are here to support you and remove the barriers that are preventing you from giving something a go.

Getting Outdoors under Social Distancing Measures

There isn’t a better place to practice social distancing than out- doors. There are many community projects and outdoor areas around South Gloucestershire that are open and available to safely enjoy gentle exercise in whilst maintaining social distancing guidelines.

CONTACT US ONLINE