Not Who, but How

What if social prescribing isn’t about who we serve, but how we connect?

Social prescribing is often framed as a solution for specific populations, but evidence from the UK (a global leader in social prescribing) suggests something more fundamental.

Social prescribing works not because of who it targets, but because of how it is delivered. At its core, it is a relationship-centered approach.

A UK realist review found that outcomes depend on the relational role of social prescribing providers, highlighting the importance of “a supportive, trusting relationship” that enables

meaningful engagement with community resources (Husk et al., 2020, https://lnkd.in/gRmp3Hm2). This foundation applies across adult populations, not just one group. When this approach is implemented well, the impact extends beyond access to services.

The Rotherham Social Prescribing pilot reported improvements in wellbeing, confidence, and self-management, alongside reductions in healthcare use (Dayson & Bashir, 2014). These outcomes were driven by sustained, personalized support, not one-time referrals.

This is the shift.

Social prescribing is not simply about connecting people to programs. It is about building relationships that change how people experience support, community, and health. Evidence shows that relationship-centered models can support adults across the lifespan by:

• Strengthening connection and belonging

• Improving confidence and self-management

• Reducing reliance on reactive healthcare services

  
  

For those of us advancing this work on Southern Vancouver Island, this raises key questions. How can we best leverage social prescribing for all our neighbours? And how do we create the conditions for meaningful, whole-community impact?

This is the opportunity before us today.