Based in Hackney and The City we are a Social Prescribing and Outreach Service. Social Prescribing is a way of enabling people to access social or community activities and resources to help improve health their and well being. We work alongside GP’s and in the community to assess people who are socially isolated and/or with long term conditions through helping them identify social and leisure activities as well as wellbeing services within their community and supporting them to engage with these activities. The Social Prescribing Co-ordinator and Service User will identify meaningful activities they want to attend, however some individuals might find attempting to attend the prescribed activity a challenge and this is where our volunteer opportunities are.

Under the supervision of the co-ordinators our volunteers help to support the service users to access the activities and follow through on goals they have set; this could be offering practical and emotional support to help with their confidence, for example helping them to find the right bus route or making the journey with them due to psychological barriers or poor mobility skills. The volunteer’s role within the Social Prescribing Service and Outreach is varied and dynamic. Our volunteers are supported by our Social Prescribers and Volunteer Coordinator and are offered continuous support and training opportunities.