Community Connect celebrates Social Prescribing Day

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Social prescribing helps people to improve their health and wellbeing by linking them with local community services, activities and groups. The service helps people make new sustainable connections with their community, reducing isolation, increasing activity and lots of other positive outcomes.

Community Connect works with GP Surgeries across Cherwell and West Oxfordshire to improve the health and wellbeing of patients.  From 9-13 March, Community Connect will be visiting a number of GP surgeries over the week to celebrate National Social Prescribing Day.  Come along to chat to a member of the team about how social prescribing might be able to help.

It all starts with a conversation.

Susan, a patient that has benefited from Community Connect social prescribing, said:

“I just wanted to say thank you for all your help over the last couple of months. You’ve really helped by finding things for me. You’ve been a brilliant outlet for me to go over any issues I have. I really appreciate all your help and support you’ve given me”.

Community Connect Navigators help people to build support links by developing a plan with them, working towards increasing their social contact and physical activity and ultimately reducing feelings of isolation and improving wellbeing.  Following a referral from their GP, together with the Community Navigator, people can discuss their problems and identify the support that they need to manage their own health and wellbeing more effectively.

Social prescribing has been shown to improve quality of life and emotional wellbeing, mental and general wellbeing, as well as improving levels of depression and anxiety. 

The service is free of charge and works with people for up to three months to help them achieve your goals.

Anyone who is 18+ and registered with a GP practice in Cherwell and West Oxfordshire can access the service.  Get in touch with Community Connect or speak to someone at your GP surgery to find out more

How we can help:

  • Increasing social connections – Connect to befriending schemes or meet new people by joining in with local groups like art classes or gardening.
  • Money and budgeting – Get advice about entitlement to benefits, money management and what to do about debt.
  • Gain confidence and skills – find training to help build your confidence and skills or move into work and volunteering.
  • Healthy lifestyle – become more active and develop a healthier lifestyle, which can help manage long term health conditions.

North and West Oxfordshire Social Prescribing Pop-up events

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
Nuffield Health Centre, Witney 9am – 11amWindrush Health Centre, Witney 9am – 11am  Chipping Norton 2 – 4pmDeddington 9am – 11amBicester Health Centre, 12 – 2pm
Gosford Hill Medical Centre, Kidlington  Bampton Surgery 1pm – 3pm  Islip Surgery 9am – 11am    
Victoria House, Bicester, 10am – 11amKey Medical Practice, Kidlington  Cropredy Surgery 9am – 11am  
 Hightown Surgery, Banbury 9am – 11am  Bloxham Surgery 3pm – 5pm  
 Montgomery House, Bicester (time tbc)   

Notes:

  1. Community Connect is a social prescribing service for Cherwell and West Oxfordshire, delivered by Citizens Advice North Oxon & South Northants (CANOSN), in partnership with Citizens Advice West Oxfordshire (CAWO).
  • Community Connect is funded by the Department for Health & Wellbeing, Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Cherwell District Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.
  • Community Connect has helped 230 patients in the last year improve their health and wellbeing.
  • On average, Community Connect patients have reported the following outcomes:
  • 64% reduction in anxiety
  • 75% increase in happiness
  • 89% increase in how satisfied they are with their life
  • 79% increase in how they feel the things they do in their life are worthwhile
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