Ways to Wellbeing Service
The Ways to Wellbeing Service is delivered by York CVS and the Coordinator is Jasmine Howard (jasmine.howard@yorkcvs.org)
Social prescribing aims to connect people via their GP to non-medical activities, services and groups that can support their health and wellbeing needs. It uses a collaborative approach, working alongside the person to set goals and understand their experiences, needs and strengths. It is a means of enabling primary care services to refer patients with social, emotional or practical needs to a range of local, non-clinical services, often provided by the voluntary and community sector.
It has been estimated that around 20 per cent of patients consult their GP for what is primarily a social concern. A GP is limited in the support they can offer a person who is, for example lonely. Now a GP could refer this person to Ways to Wellbeing, which is designed to connect people with activities and services in their community. W2W reflects the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ set of evidence-based actions which promote people’s wellbeing. These are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give and are activities & simple things individuals can do in their everyday lives. They are rooted in the work of the CVS; working with others to find something that works, being consistent, being different and ‘not like the system’, keep trying until we find something that works and importantly if there is a solution we will find it! We never give up!
Jasmine sums it up “These are our tools – not revolutionary, but tried & tested, & so far they are working”
- Reduced hospital admissions and GP appointments
- 80% people reported greater sense of wellbeing & 75% people reported increased confidence
In summary Ways to Wellbeing has commonalties with the City of York Council’s Local Area Coordination (LAC) but the referral route is different, this sits within primary care. Connecting service and may introduce people via their GP to a LAC
