What is Social Prescribing?
Social prescribing is a way to improve health and well-being by connecting people to non-medical services and activities in their community.
Social prescribing can be particularly helpful for individuals with long-term health conditions, those who are lonely or isolated, or those with complex social needs.
Social prescribing can link you with services within the community to support you to improve your health & wellbeing. They can help with:
- Housing or money issues
- Wellbeing & emotional support – links with community groups
- Loneliness
- Meaningful social activities
What do we do?
We can link patients with services and activities within their community to improve their social, economic and mental wellbeing by:
- Giving patients an opportunity to discuss what is important to them.
- Link patients with appropriate services within their community to support them to achieve their goals.
- Provide patients with their own wellbeing coordinator who will help to plan their next steps.
If you feel this service would be helpful to you, please ask at your practice for an appointment with one of our team.
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Befriending |
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Agency (phone/in person) |
Criteria for accessing/ Extra info |
Contact details |
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Age UK’s Silver Line (Phone) |
Helpline is a free, confidential phone line for people aged 55 and over. - Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide conversation and support whenever you need it. - Whether you’re feeling lonely, you need help accessing support, or you just fancy a chat. |
0800 470 8090 |
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Age UK: telephone friendship service (Phone) |
To sign up for regular Telephone Friendship Service, where someone calls each week, you need to: - be over 60 - have your own landline or mobile phone - be able to hear and be understood over the phone. - commit to a regular call at the same time each week. The service is currently available in English only. The service matches you with a volunteer with similar interests for a free weekly chat on the phone. The same volunteer will call you each week to chat about anything and everything. Note that this service may not be as helpful for people with memory loss, dementia or mental health issues who need a higher of level support. These conditions may affect the person's ability to build a telephone friendship and, in some instances, people with these conditions may find the calls more distressing. After submitting your referral is approximately 8-10 weeks can offer individual calls with volunteer/ be a part of a group call with other members or both. |
Referrals: online: Age UK - Telephone Friendship Service If someone needs support filling the referral form out: 0800 434 6105 |
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Out Together & Sky (Phone) |
This is a bespoke service supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Yorkshire. Telephone befriending connects you to an LGBTQ+ volunteer and aims to help you stay connected, increase your confidence, and provide a supportive friendly chat each week. Note that the befriending service is not a crisis service, counselling or advice service and that all befrienders are volunteers from the Sky Time to Care team. |
Referral: online Online form is currently generic. Please click “Yes” to the question “Is there anything else you would like us to consider as part of your sign-up request”, then enter LGBT in the text box. |
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Rainbow Call Companion By Re-engage (Phone) |
Rainbow call companions are a free telephone befriending service for LGBT+ people who are lonely, isolated or in need of companionship and feel they would benefit from a friendly phone call every week or two. This is a service specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender plus (LGBT+) people aged 75+ who would like to speak to someone who’s also LGBT+. Calls last for half an hour or so and you can chat about anything that interests you. What's great is that the same volunteer phones you every time, so you can get to know each other and share stories and laughter – for as long as you both want. Rainbow call companions are suitable for people who:
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Online referral: Find a rainbow call companion: LGBT+ phone befriending |
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Call Companion By Re-engage (Phone) |
Call companions is a free service for older people who are lonely, isolated or in need of companionship and feel they would enjoy a friendly phone call every week or two. Call companions are suitable for people who:
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Online referral: Get a call companion with our free phone befriending service |
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MHA Telephone Befriending services (Phone) |
MHA Telephone Befriending services match an older person to a specially trained volunteer with the aim of reducing social isolation and loneliness. This service is aimed at people 55 and over and calls are intended to be conversational. Volunteers are given full training but are not able to provide specialised support or counselling. |
Online referral: Befriending service application | MHA | Live Later Life Well |
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Independent Age (Phone) |
Independent Age is a charity aiming to address issues older people face, including loneliness, and their Helpline is a free and confidential service for older people and their friends, families and carers. They can be contacted for information, for impartial advice from a specialist adviser or to order their free guides. They can arrange a free chat with one of their specialist advisers for advice on more complicated issues such as: · Benefits & other entitlements · Arranging care and support in your home · Housing issues · Finding grants you may qualify for |
Helpline: 0800 319 6789 Monday-Friday: 8.30am – 5.30pm |
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Anxiety UK (Phone) |
Provides information and support to people who have been diagnosed with, or think they may have, an anxiety condition |
24/7 self-care and information resource line: 03444 775 774 |
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West Leeds Befriender Service |
The West Leeds Befriender Service is designed to uplift vulnerable adults in West Leeds. Run by Creative Frame CIC, dedicated volunteer befrienders provide personalized support and offer compassionate companionship to combat loneliness. There are regular social media interaction, phone calls and shared activities, to help create meaningful connections, boost confidence, and improve the wellbeing for the people being supported. |
For more information, join the Facebook group: West Leeds Befriender Service or email |
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Leeds Mind |
Live Well Leeds will deliver a range of services that include:
The service is commissioned for 5 years by Leeds City Council. It will work with people who:
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Phone: 0113 219 2727 Email: Referral form: |
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Feel Good Factor |
Feel Good Factor (FGF) supports people to improve their health and wellbeing. Based in Chapeltown, we work with communities all across Leeds providing activities, projects and services to improve access to health opportunities for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. |
Tel: 0113 350 4200
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Coronavirus support: If the coronavirus pandemic has left you feeling anxious, lonely or has impacted your lifestyle, health and well-being,
please ask to speak to a Social Prescriber.
Please note: we are not a counselling or crisis support service, however, we can refer or signpost you to the relevant services.