Understanding Social Prescribing
You may have heard the term Social Prescribing? It is a term that is becoming more and more widely used, and it refers to health care professionals providing information to patients to find support that exists within the community to improve their health and wellbeing.
To read more, including the goals of Social Prescribing and why hArt is excited to be involved, click here.
hArt’s Progression Model towards Health and Well-Being
1) Arts on Prescription Programmes – For a client with high to medium level mental health needs to be referred onto Arts on Prescription Programme
2) Creative Wellbeing Workshops – Informal drop-in creative sessions for clients with a diverse range of mental health issues. Clients can attend whilst awaiting referral onto an Arts on Prescription Programme or attend once this has completed or attend just because they enjoy it!
3) Peer Support Activities – For clients to be supported to create their own peer support/friendship group and access other community based activities.
hArt’s Arts on Prescription Programmes
14 week set programmes delivered for 2 hours per session either fortnightly or weekly (see below). There is a required commitment to attend the full 14 week programme.
Clients need to be 18+ and can be referred through local GP surgeries or Hampshire Adults Social Care. The Art Therapists sets a 14 week creative plan beginning with clients working on their own, in pairs, towards creating a group piece, which we aim to be exhibited at the end of the 14 week programme. These activities are designed to support the client in expressing their fears, concerns and hopes through art in a safe and supportive space.
Arts on Prescription Programmes in 2022
Our art psychotherapists, Charlotte & Andrew
Fordingbridge
Avonway Community Centre
Next 14 week programme starts Wednesday, October 26th 2022, 10:30am - 12:30pm, Avonway Community Centre. (Break for Christmas mid-way through, then ending Feb 2023)
Art Pyschotherapist – Charlotte Burleigh
This programme has now ended.
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New Milton - NEW
Community Centre, corner of Spencer & Osborne Rd
Next 14 week programme every Friday, 2pm - 4pm, from 28th October (Break for Christmas mid-way through, then ending Feb 2023)
Art Psychotherapist – Andrew Wright
This programme has now ended.
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Pennington
St. Marks Church hall
Art Psychotherapist – Andrew Wright
A 14 week programme.
No start date for next 'AoP' in Pennington at the moment.
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Waterside
Marcella House, Hythe (next to Waterfront & Solent GP Surgery)
Art Psychotherapist - Charlotte Burleigh
A 14 week programme.
This programme started on 22nd Feb, 2023.
Creative Wellbeing Workshops
The aim of this programme is to be delivered as an on-going core programme throughout the year delivered either weekly or fortnightly as 2 hour sessions. Delivered by local Art Facilitators who offer a range of creative activities to engage with or even for clients to bring their own creative activities to the group. An informal drop-in group for clients with a diverse range of mental health issues. The benefits to clients would be:
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Increased social connections
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Increased access to creative activities
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Increased confidence and self-esteem
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Increased resilience.
Creative Wellbeing Programmes for 2022
Fordingbridge – Victoria Rooms, 26 Bridge St
Facilitator: Rachael Hartley
Every other Wednesday, 10am-12pm.
(8th & 22nd March 2023, 5th & 19th April, etc)
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Waterside – Hythe & Dibden Community Centre, Brinton Lane
Facilitator: Karen Blake
Every Tuesday morning 10am-12pm
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Pennington – St Marks Community Church Hall,
The Square, Pennington, Lymington. SO41 8EJ
Art Facilitator – Karen Blake
Every Friday afternoon, 2pm - 4pm
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New Milton - New Milton Community Centre, Osbourne Rd (corner of Spencer rd)
Facilitator: Karen Blake
Every Wednesday, 10am-12pm, BAR 1st WED OF EACH MONTH
Some key achievements from previous
programmes included...
Our work reduces the need for medication: through liaising with local GPs and beneficiaries at pre-agreed intervals, a reduction in prescribed medication was noted amongst hArt’s target population
A GP at Fordingbridge surgery commented that one patient had reduced their GP appointments by a third since attending hArt’s Creative Wellbeing Programme.
Our work has increasing impact over time: the higher the attendance rate of
beneficiaries the less anxious they felt over time, highlighting an increasing impact after each session
“Very enjoyable and relaxing, created space for me to integrate thoughts and feelings regarding present issues.” hArt client
“I had so much fun today and will definitely come again...’ hArt client
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