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Social Prescribing Spring Bulletin 2025
South Southwark Social Prescribing Spring Bulletin
Our Social Prescribing Link Workers support anyone registered to a South Southwark GP.
Over several sessions, we help identify what matters to the individual and develop a plan with them to support them to make positive life changes.
We will connect the individual to activities, services, social groups, and advice in and around Southwark.
Case Study
This winter, an asylum seeking patient was referred to our Social Prescribing service by her GP practice for support for her mental wellbeing. After speaking to the Social Prescriber about ‘what mattered to her’, she expressed she was struggling to leave her house, due to not having adequate warm clothing. The Social Prescriber researched available resources and referred her to Thread Ahead’s ‘Winter Coat Event’. She attended and successfully received a new coat. With this immediate need met, this enabled her to start utilising community services offering a range of social, practical and emotional support. For this patient, something as seemingly simple as sourcing a new coat, highlights the crucial role of Social Prescribing in connecting individuals to vital support that supports their health and wellbeing and addresses key health inequalities.
Updates on local services/key resources
Changes to Adult Social Care Referrals
Southwark Adult Social Care and occupational therapy referrals for Older People and Physical Disabilities (OPPD) will now only be accepted by going to their website and filling out the online referral form. They are no longer accepting email referrals, and if they are sent this way, this will delay the process of getting residents assessed.
The new referral form can be found here.
Pension Credit
Around 850,000 eligible households are not claiming Pension Credit, a benefit for people over state pension age with a low income. Financial insecurity can significantly impact health, leading to increased stress, poor nutrition, and reduced quality of life.
Pension Credit tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level:
- £218.15 for single pensioners
- £332.95 for pensioners in a couple
Many residents may be eligible but are unaware of the support available.
Encouraging those over state pension age to check if they qualify could have a positive impact on their overall health.
Black Carers Project
We know that the stress and fatigue associated with caring responsibilities can have a significant impact on both physical and mental health.
For Black carers in Southwark, these challenges can sometimes feel even more isolating.
The Black Dialogue Therapy Group, part of Southwark Wellbeing Hub's Black Carers Project, meets every month and provides an opportunity for carers to connect with others who understand the unique challenges they face. By offering a space for discussion and emotional support, they aim to reduce feelings of isolation and improve overall well-being.
Pregnancy Support for Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Romanian, or Somali Speakers
Language barriers can make it harder for women to access important maternity care and support, which can affect both physical and mental health during pregnancy.
To help address this, the South East London Local Maternity and Neonatal System has launched a service providing pregnancy support in six languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Somali, and Romanian. These free online classes are facilitated by NHS midwives, MSWs, obstetricians, and health visitors.
Women can book via the South East London LMNS webpage.
Southwark crisis support
The Southwark Service User Network (SUN) Project offers crisis and peer support groups for adults in Southwark with emotional and relationship difficulties. This includes people who might be feeling impulsive, suicidal or self-harming.
Each group runs for two-and-a-half hours with breaks and service users can attend as little or often as they wish.
Published: Apr 25, 2025