Established in June 2020, the Scottish Social Prescribing Network (SSPN) is an inclusive network for the social prescribing community, spanning link workers, community activity providers, researchers and those individuals we seek to serve and support through social prescribing.

Over the past year the network has developed a Steering Group, organised and delivered a number of networking events, secured funding to run a future planning consultation day and launched the SSPN website https://www.scottishspn.org.uk/

The key aim of the network is to develop the strategic direction of social prescribing in Scotland and this will include raising awareness, identifying and sharing best practice, developing training programmes reflecting the full breadth of network membership, commissioning research and celebrating and showcasing the benefits of social prescribing to individuals, communities and the nation’s health.

If you would like to know more please visit the website or contact the SSPN on info@scottishspn.org.uk . If you wish to stay up to date please follow @ScottishSPN on Twitter.

Ruthanne Baxter is on the Steering Group for SSPN  and is the Museums Services Manager at the University of Edinburgh and Founder of Prescribe Culture, a heritage-based, non-clinical initiative for those seeking support for mental health and wellbeing. She is an ambassador for the power and benefits of the social prescribing movement, with a passion for the role of heritage to be a ‘vehicle’ for effective social prescribing.

 

For more information on social prescribing:

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/social-prescribing

https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/resources/social-prescribing