Social prescribing in Shropshire
Connecting people, communities and practical support
You may have heard the term social prescribing and wondered what it means in day-to-day life. In Shropshire, social prescribing gives people time to talk one to one with a trained Healthy Lives Advisor to agree a plan of action based on what matters to them. The advisor can then help connect the person with local activities, support and services that may improve health and wellbeing.
Our role in social prescribing
The community engagement for social prescribing in Shropshire is delivered in partnership by Community Resource and OCA (Oswestry Community Action). Together, we are a team of four Community Engagement Officers working across the county to strengthen the community network that helps social prescribing work successfully.
We work closely with partners including the NHS, Primary Care Networks, the local authority, and other voluntary and community sector organisations. We also help to promote and explain social prescribing so that local residents and organisations understand what it is, who it can help, and how to access it.
Finding and sharing what is available locally
A key part of our job is getting out into communities and meeting the groups that make Shropshire what it is. We spend time building relationships with community groups, charities, volunteers and local leaders, and we work to make sure opportunities are visible and easy to link into. This helps the wider social prescribing system to have up to date local knowledge, and it helps community organisations feel better connected.
Community Connector meetings
One of the main ways we bring people together is through our Community Connector meetings. These are friendly, practical meet ups where local organisations can network, share updates, and hear what is happening in their area.
As a team of four, we facilitate meetings across North Shropshire, Shrewsbury, South West Shropshire and South East Shropshire. These meetings are often where new partnerships form, information spreads quickly, and small conversations turn into real support for our community.
Developing peer support and filling gaps
Alongside connecting people to existing activities, we also support the development of peer support groups and new provision where there are identified gaps. If we keep hearing the same need coming up, whether it is a topic area or a place that feels under served, we can use our networks to bring the right people together and help new ideas take shape to benefit our community.
How you can find out more and get involved
- To learn more about social prescribing in Shropshire, including how it works and how to access it, visit the social prescribing page on Shropshire Council’s website
- To connect with the Community Engagement Officers for Shrewsbury, South West Shropshire and South East Shropshire, email Community Resource: enquiries@community-resource.org.uk
- To connect with the Community Engagement Officer for North Shropshire, email OCA (Oswestry Community Action): info@qube-oca.org.uk
If you would like your organisation to join the Community Connectors network, email the relevant address above and tell us which area you cover. We will then share details of your local Community Connector meeting and how to get involved.
