Get in touch.

Lincoln.

29-31 Mint St, Lincoln, LN1 1UB

Phone: 01522 77 50 60

Email us
London.

The Gridiron Building, 1 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG

Phone: 020 7186 1980

Email us

Follow us

Project Planner

Social Prescribing Research and Marketing Strategy.

Understanding and increasing social prescribing within GP settings.

Hertfordshire and West Essex STP asked Social Change UK to undertake research to inform the creation of a social marketing strategy and implementation plan for a campaign targeting GPs and GP Practices with the aim of increasing social prescribing rates.

What we did:
  • Cause marketing
  • Research and insight
  • Social marketing and behaviour change
  • Strategy
Content image for Social Prescribing Research and Marketing Strategy

The mission.

Increase rates of social prescribing.

NHS England defines social prescribing as:

“A way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.” (NHS England, 2019)

Hertfordshire and West Essex STP told us that they wanted to increase social prescribing rates amongst GPs and within GP practice settings. This audience was key to target as they regularly engage with patients who could benefit most from social prescriptions (particularly high or recurrent users of primary care services).

Our mission was to undertake research with those working in GP settings and use emerging insights to develop a social marketing strategy and implementation plan for a campaign.

Content image for Social Prescribing Research and Marketing Strategy

The research.

Understanding the barriers and opportunities for GPs to engage with social prescribing.

Following initial scoping of local and national data related to social prescribing, we ran a short survey with GPs and other health professionals and further in-depth interviews with some of the survey participants to explore and understand their views and experiences related to social prescribing, and how to best engage them with the coming campaign. 

The impact.

The research helped us to produce a social marketing strategy (with marketing tools, marketing materials and evaluation metrics) to support Hertfordshire and West Essex STP implement a campaign to increase the uptake of social prescribing by GPs and GP Practices. This is supporting the STP’s strategic work to promote and integrate social prescribing into GP Practice work across the STP area. 

“Approachable, committed, attuned, and effective team“

Content image for Social Prescribing Research and Marketing Strategy
Content image for Social Prescribing Research and Marketing Strategy
64 GPs and practice staff took part in our survey
7 participants took part in our in-depth interviews
22 actionable insights
1 social marketing strategy and implementation plan

You might also like...

Work

Healthy Placemaking

We worked in partnership with Design Council to explore the barriers to creating healthy places.

Read more
Work Thumbnail for Childhood obesity insight

Childhood obesity insight

We worked with Knowsley Council to uncover insight and help professionals and stakeholders understand what factors influence changes in weight in primary school children and the steps and system change needed to reverse childhood obesity. 

Read more

Do you want to make a difference?

Let us help you. Chat to us about planning your next project.
Get planning

Get the latest insights and other interesting changemaker stuff in your inbox.

Once or twice a month, 100% real and interesting, 0% spam.
We create meaningful digital products that connect with people and make positive change possible.
Check out our Social Good Projects +

Follow us

Lincoln.

29-31 Mint St, Lincoln, LN1 1UB

Phone: 01522 77 50 60

Email us
London.

The Gridiron Building, 1 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG

Phone: 020 7186 1980

Email us
Important stuff.

Home of the changemakers.

We just need a bit more info

* indicates required

Social Change will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us:

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at rob@social-change.co.uk. We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.

Project Planner