Transforming Community Health Through Social Prescribing
Over the last 12 months Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) has supported almost 400 local residents through social prescribing.
Social prescribing is an approach to healthcare which connects people to activities, groups and services which can meet their practical, social and emotional needs.
With today, Thursday March 26, National Social Prescribing Day 2026, the success and impact of this new personalised care and support system is in the spotlight.
Impacting Lives
John Faber is our dedicated social prescribing link worker who helps people to take control of their health and wellbeing. He works in conjunction with the Midlands Medical Partnership (MMP) to support GP patients across North Birmingham. John’s work helps to ease the pressure on clincial health service providers.
Patients are referred into John – via a social prescription issued by their GP – who will then facilitate an initial phone conversation with them to discuss their situation and needs.
“Social Prescribing is an important and much needed project that connects residents in the north of Birmingham to many non-clinical services,” he said.
“This includes advice on social activities & groups, mental health support, benefits advice and housing support. The social prescribing I do helps to take the pressure off local GP surgeries and allows them to put more focus on the medical needs of people.
“We are very proud to be a provider of social prescribing in the north of the city. It allows us to play a key role in delivering positive impacts in peoples lives.”
While traditional prescription medicine remains vital, it often fall shorts of solving the health problems that can be caused by things like loneliness or stress caused by financial or housing issues.
That is why WLCA is happy to lead this transformative approach to healthcare.
Treating root causes
Kirstie Maxfield is the Health & Wellbeing Coordinator at Witton Lodge. She works closely with MMP to organise social prescribing support.
She said: “Social prescribing involves linking people to support, advice services, groups and activities in their local communities to address social, emotional or practical issues. We have been working in partnership with MMP North to support vulnerable patients to improve their health and wellbeing through social prescribing. Last year we were delighted to have provided support to more than 370 patients in the North of Birmingham.”
The Power of Partnership
The success of this initiative is rooted in collaboration. By working in close partnership with MMP North, WLCA ensures that healthcare is holistic. This synergy allows GP surgeries to focus on the clinical medical needs of its patients so that John, with Kirstie’s support, handles the social causes of health problems.
Some of the people who have received social prescribing support from John have commented on the value and positive impact of it. Here is some of the feedback received.
“I don’t know what I would have done if it weren’t for the support and advice of your social prescribing team.”
“Thanks to social prescribing I am now attending the yoga classes at the Eco Hub. Before this I was feeling isolated and alone. I look forward to going to the class and have met some wonderful people.”
“It’s amazing the amount of help out there that I didn’t know existed. Thank you so much!”
At Witton Lodge, our social prescribing team sit at the very heart of our mission to provide personalised non-medical care and support to our residents. They embody the true spirit of social prescribing by working closely with residents to understand the unique needs of each individual.
