Green Social Prescribing

In December 2020 the Government announced that Derby & Derbyshire had been selected as one of seven areas in England chosen to be a Green Social Prescribing 'test and learn' site, securing £500,000 Government funding, to connect underserved communities to the natural environment to improve mental health and wellbeing.

‘Green’ Social Prescribing is the practice of supporting people to engage in nature-based activities.  This can include activities such as walking, cycling, community gardening and food-growing projects, as well as practical conservation tasks such as tree planting. 

An example includes prescribing appropriate physical activity to people living with long-term conditions to manage their conditions and improve their mental wellbeing.

The ambition for the project is to create a joined-up approach across the county using green social prescribing to better support and improve the mental health and wellbeing of local communities through use and development of green space, by supporting people to feel confident and encouraging them to become active participants in the natural world.  It will take the opportunity to learn lessons about shared policy and delivery and identify barriers and ways of improving outcomes for citizens.

The group wants to hear from you if you want to know more or are interested in being involved in this exciting work! 

Please register your interest by emailing Richard Murrell at the CCG: richard.murrell@nhs.net and we can then update/engage with you as the project develops.

More information about the fund can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-sites-to-test-how-connecting-people-with-nature-can-improve-mental-health.