Report calls for Government to back social prescribing fitness and leisure sector to help reduce pressure on NHS

By ukactive | 14 January 2022 | TAGS: Social prescribing, Research and learning, Health, Leisure

Public health initiatives must help raise awareness of social prescribing in gyms, pools and leisure centres in order to reduce the pressure on the NHS, according to a new report published by ukactive on 12th January.

The report, called ‘Leading the Change: social prescribing within the fitness and leisure sector’, calls for the Government and its agencies to help unlock the potential of fitness and leisure facilities to serve more people through social prescribing.

The report, sponsored by Matrix, makes four key recommendations to develop and grow social prescribing within the fitness and leisure sector so it can play its fullest role in improving the health and wellbeing of the nation. ukactive will share the findings and recommendations from the report with the Government and key stakeholders in the wider network, to drive action and support.

Social prescribing connects people to community support based on what interests them, and helps address issues affecting their health and wellbeing. Working alongside GPs, social prescribing link workers connect people to activities such as fitness groups, swimming, walking, dancing, running, or gardening, depending on what the person likes and what will benefit them.

Learn more about the report and its recommendations here