What is Wellbeing Matters?
Wellbeing Matters is a Social Prescribing approach which helps build capacity in the VCSE ecosystem through volunteering and voluntary action in Salford. Our social prescribing approach connects patients to the VCSE sector to support wellbeing. Wellbeing Matters provides social prescribing support through a Community Connector to enable people to access non-medical wellbeing support within their neighbourhood by connecting them into local activity and provision tailored to them. It is a neighbourhood model, operating across Salford with add Community Connectors in each of the five health and care neighbourhoods, a city-wide Community Connector, a Living Well Mental Health Community Connector, a long COVID Community Connector and a Home First Hospital Discharge Community Connector. Wellbeing Matters is led by Salford CVS in partnership with five VSCE anchor organisations employ a Community Connector (The Big Life Group, START inspiring Minds, Social Adventures, Inspiring Communities Together and Langworthy Cornerstone).
Benefits
Support at the right time, space to consider options and be listened to; increased feeling of connectivity with their community; increased confidence; improved mental health; increased physical activity levels; reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation; improved health and wellbeing; improved levels of self-management of long-term conditions and increased resilience.
Blog: Empowering people to create healthier lives - How social prescribing can impact long-term conditions in Salford
Find out about the feedback Wellbeing Matters has received and case studies.
Building capacity
Alongside the social prescribing approach Wellbeing Matters and Salford CVS works to Develop capacity in local communities to support volunteering and voluntary action around the 5 ways to wellbeing with Volunteering Development Workers building the eco-system to socially prescribe into. Community groups may need support from exploring funding opportunities, attracting volunteers, developing and building their group, promotion and becoming constituted. Our Volunteering Development Workers support local groups the Community Connectors refer into to ensure the sustainability of the community. This work includes supporting a citywide campaign to recruit more volunteers in Salford, ensuring good practice is at the heart of all of our activities.
The specific areas of focus are:
- Recruiting new volunteers for a wide range of local VCSE sector volunteer-involving organisations
- Supporting existing Volunteer Wellbeing Champions and recruiting and training new Champions
- Supporting place-based VCSE anchors with their volunteering programmes
- Supporting the delivery of our social prescribing model for Salford
- Playing an active role in promoting wider person and community-centred approaches to wellbeing and health in Salford
Evidence
There is growing evidence on the benefits and impact of social prescribing especially programmes based within the VCSE sector.
Living Well Salford Report | Healthwatch Salford
Evidence - National Academy for Social Prescribing | NASP (socialprescribingacademy.org.uk)