Social Prescribing Project

New Routes Social Prescribing Project

New Routes

Community Avenues to Wellbeing

New Routes aims to encourage people to use local resources, connections, community groups and initiatives.

The New Routes project is based in Keynsham with funding from Bath and North East Somerset Local Authority and PCT combined. It is a two-year pilot project that is being independently evaluated by the University of Bath. New Routes is all about ‘social prescribing', i.e. a formal way of enabling primary care services to refer patients with social or emotional needs to a range of local non-clinical services and support. The New Routes coordinators signpost patients to services and support and can help them to become involved and try new things.

Outcomes for people referred through these projects include decreased social isolation, enhanced self-esteem, opportunities for skill development, transferable skills and improved mental health and wellbeing. Social prescribing is especially useful for finding an alternative to the GP and thereby reducing the pressure currently placed on medical practitioners.

View the New Routes launch event November 2009

New Routes Coordinators

       Debbie Howitt                                               Anna Sansom

For further information:

Link to TCF Social prescribing information sheet  

Link to Debbie and Anna's email addresses

DebbieHowitt@thecareforum.org.uk

AnnaSansom@thecareforum.org.uk

Telephone: 0117 958 9303