Organisations sign up to be part of new scheme

GUERNSEY Conservation Volunteers, the Guernsey Employment Trust and Arts for Impact are among more than 50 local organisations which have signed up to be part of the new Bailiwick Social Prescribing scheme.

The launch of Bailiwick Social Prescribing, a new free scheme to help people improve their health and wellbeing with non-medical support. Pictured are representatives from three of the 50 charities that have signed up to the scheme. Left to right are Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis from Guernsey Employment Trust, Angela Salmon from Guernsey Conservation Volunteers, and Helen Bonner-Morgan from Arts for Impact. (Picture by Sophie Rabey, 29697047)

Social prescribing involves a GP referring a patient who may be experiencing mental health difficulties or other life stresses to a ‘link worker’ who will support patients and suggest an appropriate response to improve their health and wellbeing.

The treatments and responses that form social prescriptions involve a variety of activities, typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations, including arts activities, group learning, gardening, cookery and a range of sports.

‘Arts for Impact were really keen to be involved with social prescribing from the outset because we knew that together we could support the emotional, mental and physical health of our community,’ said engagement director Helen Bonner-Morgan from the charity.

‘There’s a lot of data that says that creative activities can reduce people’s stress levels and even half an hour of creative activity can lower cortisol levels.’

The holistic approach to health care aims to provide doctors and their patients with other options to try before pharmaceutical or therapy-based interventions.

Representatives from the organisations believe the scheme will bring all the services involved together, giving GPs more options for their patients and giving the associated groups another route by which members of the community can access their services.

While the Guernsey Conservation Volunteers do a lot of work for the environment, the group wanted to join the scheme to do more for people in the community.

Group co-ordinator Angela Salmon said: ‘The work that we do in with the environment is a good way of people connecting with nature and also with other people, while having some exercise at the same time.’

Chief executive of the Guernsey Employment Trust, Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis, added: ‘Employment is part of a wider picture of somebody’s health and there can be many reasons that someone is out of work.

‘So connecting them to the right career can help them to be happier and healthier and being more involved in society.’