In honour of National Social Prescribing Day (Wednesday 19 March 2025), Sarah Paine, NCVS Green Social Prescribing Programme Lead, shares her views on the value of relationships in social prescribing, the value they bring, and some top tips on how to make the most of them.
At the heart of Green Social Prescribing (GSP) is a relational approach—one that recognises that building and maintaining strong connections between Social Prescribing Link Workers, activity providers, and patients leads to better engagement, more appropriate referrals, and improved health outcomes.
Through Green Social Prescribing, we have seen first-hand how investing in relationships strengthens the social prescribing pathway, making it more effective, sustainable, and person-centred. These two perspectives illustrate this:
1. The Impact of a Green SPLW Champion
A Social Prescribing Link Worker (SPLW) with a champion role in green social prescribing brings a deep understanding of the benefits of nature-based activities. By embedding this expertise within their service, they become:
- A trusted advocate in clinical settings, articulating the benefits of nature-based interventions.
- A key connector who ensures appropriate referrals to green activities.
- A bridge between patients and providers, ensuring a personalised approach that aligns with individual needs.
This was echoed by green activity providers at a GSP networking event, who collectively valued the champion role. They reported that an SPLW with specialist knowledge and advocacy skills built trust in the referral process and increased engagement.
2. Provider Experience: Climbing Matters and Rushcliffe SPLW team
From the perspective of activity providers, strong relationships with SPLWs remove barriers to participation. Activity provider Climbing Matters, for example, connected with a Rushcliffe SPLW at an event. The SPLW:
- Recognised a referral barrier and embedded a solution within their system.
- Advocated for the activity based on its demonstrated impact on well-being.
- Increased referrals and participation, turning engagement into a sustainable pathway.
This relationship-driven approach was essential in boosting trust, engagement, and impact. However, we also recognise that changes to SPLW staffing teams can disrupt these connections, making it even more important to embed relational models within social prescribing services and the importance of a warm handover between SPLW and the activity provider.
Based on the experience gained from these two examples, here are some ideas for social prescribing services to consider:
- Champion roles: consider developing SPLW specialisms (e.g., green social prescribing) to strengthen provider connections.
- Structured ARRS roles: either adopt a triage model with SPLWs covering different areas or embed SPLWs within specialist teams.
- Prioritise relationship-building to improve referral quality and patient outcomes.
And some tips for activity providers:
- Build relationships with SPLWs who advocate for your work.
- Establish credibility through impact data and clear referral processes.
- Make referrals easy by co-designing pathways with SPLWs.
- Share success stories to encourage continued engagement.
- Offer structured session times to improve accessibility for participants.
By embedding a relationship-focused model within social prescribing, we can help to ensure appropriate referrals, better patient experiences, and long-term sustainability for providers and SPLWs alike.
Want to learn more about green social prescribing? Check out our GreenSpace and Travel Well pages.
