Health Estates Journal | The value of social prescribing hubs

Creating spaces for social prescribing that are non-clinical, welcoming and flexible is key strategy in a holistic approach to healthcare. In this article for Health Estates Journal, Alasdair Ben Dixon highlights the value of social prescribing hubs and the hugely positive impact that codesign with stakeholders can have on the end result.

Ashfield Community Hub was one of 100 pilot projects delivered by NHS Property Services in 2023-24. Collective Works worked on three of these, engaging with local organisations, health and social care professionals and charities to create a community assets that gives patients more agency in their own health outcomes. By addressing the root causes of ill health and enhancing overall wellbeing, social prescribing has emerged a powerful tool in the health landscape.

Ashfield Community Hub repurposes a disused canteen within the Ashfield Health Centre in Kirkby, Nottinghamshire with the ambition of creating a welcoming space that is absolutely ‘non-clinical’ – to be used by local groups, and serve people locally and from across the region to support their social wellbeing.

The Mid Nottinghamshire Place Team – which manages the hub – works with partners in the District and County Councils and third sector organisations to work towards delivering schemes focussed on integrated working, reducing health inequalities and ensure that communities receive the best health and social care.

From the outset, Collective Works engaged with stakeholders and users to codesign the community hub. They were then able to bring in their design expertise to make the design ideas a reality, using furniture, colour and biophilia to bring the space to life. The end result is a flexible, adaptable and welcoming space that will be host to a variety of activities from sewing lessons, IT workshops, meetings of community groups of all ages and small team meetings and gatherings.

In the words of Nicki Glencross, Service Transformation Officer in the Mid Notts Place Team is committed to following through and delivering the promised value of social prescribing hubs: “I hope it ends up being a space where people feel comfortable and welcomed, not matter what the reason for the group they are there for.  I want people to leave feeling ‘That was amazing, I want to go back. I enjoyed being there and it made me feel good!’ ”

You can read the full article in Health Estates Journal here.

Alasdair Ben Dixon