Can a local model for social prescribing be successfully recreated in different areas? Lessons from a co-production initiative in Nottinghamshire.

Abstract

This research explored how to take a successful and established approach for creating place-based opportunities for Social Prescribing (referred to as the “Inspiring A” model) from one district in Nottinghamshire and recreate the same approach in two different districts. The Inspiring A model set up by a Community Voluntary Action group successfully co-ordinated a diverse range of third sector partners to provide a calendar of activities and events for residents, enriching social prescribing provision and enhancing the place-identity of the locale. The research described here undertook to recreate the Inspiring A model in two additional Nottinghamshire districts through co-design and co-production with local stakeholders. The aim was to use the Inspiring A model approach to improving social prescribing provision and local connectedness to achieve the same outcomes in different Nottinghamshire districts. The paper sets out our approach to co-design and co-production and discusses some of the challenges which communities have to overcome to successfully support social prescribing services.