National Academy for Social Prescribing

The National Academy for Social Prescribing is a registered UK charity promoting health and wellbeing. It was launched on 23 October 2019.[1]

The academy’s work includes:

• Connecting the social prescribing system, through training and consultancy, resources and a Champions scheme for clinicians and health workers.

• Creating innovative partnerships, from local to international.

• Boosting investment for frontline organisations delivering social prescribing, including through the Power of Music Fund and the Green Social Prescribing Programme.

• Building the evidence base, working with nearly 300 academics and experts around the world and publishing 15 thematic evidence reviews.

• Raising the profile of social prescribing through national campaigns.[2]

NHS England provided around £650,000 for the initial set-up costs and the Department of Health and Social Care provided a £5m grant to the academy in 2020 [3] and a further £3.6 million in 2022. [4]

Activities

In November 2020, the Academy, in collaboration with Arts Council England, announced the launch of a new £1.4 million Thriving Communities Fund, designed to develop local social prescribing activities across the country. The Academy contributed £1.15 million to the fund, with £250,000 provided by the Arts Council, which administered the fund.[5]

The Academy has also established the Power of Music Fund, in partnership with The Utley Foundation, Arts Council England, Music for All and others.[6] The fund supports local music and dementia projects, and also led to the establishment of the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia in 2024.[7]

It has also published more than 15 evidence reviews related to social prescribing and a wide range of toolkits and guidance for professionals.[8] It has published a report on social prescribing around the world, and works with more than 30 countries around the world through its international programme.[9]

Governance

Charlotte Osborn-Forde is the Chief Executive of the National Academy for Social Prescribing.[10]

Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard was the first Chair of Trustees for the National Academy for Social Prescribing.[11]. The current trustees include:

Brad Gudger

Jonathan Badyal

Dr Harry Brunjes

Dr. Davina Deniszczyc

Patty Dimond

Amanda Ellingworth

Clova Fyfe

Sarah Metcalfe

Gay Palmer

Phoebe Vela-Hitchcox [12]

References

  1. ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-prescribing-new-national-academy-set-up
  2. ^ https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/about-us/
  3. ^ "Outgoing RCGP chair to head up new National Academy for Social Prescribing | GPonline". www.gponline.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  4. ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/36-million-social-prescribing-funding-to-bolster-mental-health-support-and-ease-pressure-on-gps
  5. ^ "Social prescribing in England boosted by new £1.4m Thriving Communities Fund". Museums + Heritage Advisor. 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  6. ^ https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/the-power-of-music/the-power-of-music-fund/
  7. ^ https://manchestercamerata.co.uk/centre-of-excellence-for-music-and-dementia/
  8. ^ https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/about-us/the-story-so-far/
  9. ^ https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/resources/social-prescribing-around-the-world/
  10. ^ https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/resources/nasp-announces-new-ceo/
  11. ^ https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/resources/professor-dame-helen-stokes-lampard-stands-down-as-nasp-chair/
  12. ^ https://socialprescribingacademy.org.uk/about-us/meet-the-board/