Every month, we compile a list of resources for people working in social prescribing. See below for our October list!
This is part of our monthly social prescribing newsletter. You can get it (and much more) by signing up to the London Social Prescribing Network.
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Resources
Black heritage blood donors
The NHS is urgently seeking blood donors from Black heritage communities to help treat sickle cell patients. Sickle cell, the fastest-growing genetic disorder in the UK, affects many Black heritage individuals, and blood from the same ethnicity offers the best treatment. Donating blood is quick, safe, and can save up to three lives. Schedule your donation at blood.co.uk or use the NHSGiveBlood app.
Warm home discount scheme
The Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme provides a £150 rebate onto electricity bills for eligible low-income households in Great Britain. Letters will be issued to eligible and potentially eligible citizens by mid-January with more information. A helpline is open for calls from 14 October 2024 – 0800 030 9322.
Healthy living with diabetes
Healthy Living for people with type 2 diabetes is a free, online NHS programme that supports people to live well with diabetes. You can get resource packs for promoting the campaign by completing this form.
Thriving Places Index
The 2024 Thriving Places Index provides an up-to-date picture of how well different areas are doing in creating conditions for everyone to thrive. It brings together data and evidence to help you understand and map the pathways to developing a thriving place where you are. This could be helpful when arguing why your project and activity meets the needs of your community.
Office for National Statistics toolkit
The Office for National Statistics have created a communications toolkit to explain how they collect and use data.
Reports
Patient voices for social prescribing
The Patient Voices programme, run by Transformation Partners in Health and Care, has been co-produced with various prominent groups, and was an opportunity for people with lived experience of social prescribing to share their experiences. You can find out more about the project here.
Community chest
Transformation Partners in Health and Care have carried out an evaluation of the Community Chest model, an initiative aimed at enhancing local collaboration and improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Structural racism & health inequalities
This report by the Institute of Health Equity highlights how people who are repeatedly exposed to racism in their daily lives, or when using essential services, increasingly experience worse physical and mental health over time.
Health inequalities priorities
The King’s Fund recently published 7 priorities for tackling health inequalities. Of particular relevance is priority 7: ‘Actively support local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations through changes in financial planning and commissioning.
Musculoskeletal hubs
This report by UK Active looks into musculoskeletal (MSK) hubs, a pilot to test the potential of gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres to support people suffering from MSK conditions.
Inequalities in personalised care
This new report provides solutions to address inequalities in accessing personalised mental health care for people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Communities with key learnings from the Personalised Care Programme.
Health checks & mental illness
Race Equality Foundation have produced a report on how they upskilled the voluntary sector to improve awareness and uptake amongst Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities getting their public health check.
