Social PRESCRIBING
And Wellbeing
The team here at EC30 is here to guide every person to find ways to live that is meaningful to them and achieves what wellbeing means to them on an individual basis. This could be anything from helping a new parent with a new-born infant who may need advice about feeding or nursery places to a person seeking help and advice caring for someone at the end of life.
Health, mental and physical, and Wellbeing are inextricably linked. In order to live a life that is felt by each individual to be a good and enjoyable life, these two components need to work in harmony.
The World Health Organisation defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
In 2008, the Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project defined wellbeing as “a dynamic state, in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others, and contribute to their community. It is enhanced when an individual is able to achieve their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of purpose in society.”
Over the ensuing years and from this springboard came the “Five Ways to Wellbeing” currently adopted by the NHS.
Most people are now conversant with eating “Five A Day” fruit and vegetables to ensure the optimum healthy diet. This approach was embraced by the NHS and patients suffering from many disorders and diseases are encouraged to eat their five a day.
Similarly the “Five Ways to Wellbeing” are now actively promoted throughout the NHS. NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommend Mindfulness and Exercise for example in their recommendations for treatment. Both these examples fit into the “Five Ways to Wellbeing”
The Coffee Shop
The volunteers are the beating heart of EC30 and without them, this project would not exist. The opportunity to volunteer is one of the recommended pillars of The Five Ways to Wellbeing and many of the people who volunteer at EC30 are able to testify to this. Volunteer sessions can be completely flexible, they can be longer or shorter sessions and tailored to age/ability/time constraints.