Hastings Community Wellbeing Service

Social Prescribing to improve mental health and wellbeing

Is your mental and emotional wellbeing affected by the pressures of daily life? The Community Wellbeing Service provides ‘Social Prescribing’ to help you find practical solutions to life challenges. We work in partnership with GPs to provide tailored support to improve mental health and wellbeing.

The service is commissioned by, and works in partnership with, Hastings and Rother Clinical Commissioning Group and East Sussex County Council.

What is Social Prescribing?

Social Prescribing supports you to access services and activities in your local community that can help improve your mental and emotional wellbeing. It can be an addition or alternative to medication and psychological therapies. There are times when we all need support to address life’s challenges. Meeting people and knowing how to access support available can make a big difference.

What does the service provide?

This is a free service that provides one to one support at your GP surgery or in the community. We take referrals from GPs for people with issues impacting on their mental health and where the GP has identified that a ‘social prescription’ would benefit them. Once we’ve received a referral we will contact you to discuss how the service can support your needs. Alternatively, you can attend our daily drop-in clinics (see below for details). An advisor will work with you to create a personalised wellbeing plan. They will support you to access specialist services and community activities to enable you to make lifestyle choices to improve your wellbeing.

Specialist services we can support you to access include:

• Housing
• Benefits
• Finance and debt
• Health and wellbeing
• Legal advice
• Relationships and parenting

Community activities we can support you to access include:

• Arts and culture
• Health and leisure
• Education and training
• Volunteering and employment
• Faith and spirituality
• Befriending and social networks