Accessible Text Alternative for Process for Establishing a Social Prescribing Project in the Heritage Sector

This page is an accessible text alternative for diagram depicting the stages in the process for establishing a social prescribing project in the heritage sector.

Stage 1: develop local connections and establish interest

  •  Have conversations and develop links with local stakeholders (including the healthcare sector), build relationships and listen to local need (healthcare priorities), gaps (in social prescribing offers) and interest (in relation to heritage and the historic environment) to inform an offer
  • Develop local partnerships with the Voluntary and Community Sector (for referrals, delivery and support e.g. Age UK, Mind, Mencap) and for evaluation (e.g. universities, consultants/researcher or identifying internal capacity)
  • Ensure there is regional managerial support
  • Deliver a taster session to build up knowledge, test the concept and consult with audience about activities
  • Embed co-production (or elements of this) throughout this process
  • Develop funding streams (e.g. internally, Heritage Lottery Fund, The National Lottery Community Fund, local authorities, arts/culture and health bodies, partners) which should be aligned, accessible and sufficient
  • Promote the offer with link workers/referral organisations

Stage 2: design project and preparation

  •  Develop project aims and a varied programme of activities
  • Consider who the offer will be designed for, regularity of sessions (minimum of six weeks in length), recruitment methods (depending on relationships established), types of activities
  • Consider capacity in terms of maximum number of service users, resources required and project cost to participants
  • Consult with partners and potential beneficiaries to inform the approach and ensure it is accessible and inclusive
  • Consider whether the partners involved cover all of the relevant knowledge, skills and experience required
  • Ensure policies and procedures conform to best practice and legislation (e.g. safeguarding, GDPR, information governance, insurance, and health and safety); maintain a risk register
  • Consider transition and legacy for the end of the programme so this is not abrupt
  • Develop evaluation metrics and approach, consider capacity, skills and resource

Stage 3: effective delivery and evaluation

  • Recruitment of team and steering group with coverage of skills and experience required – dedicated project/volunteer coordinator is key
  • Ensure leadership is strategic and dispersed, agree a signed partnership agreement among all delivery partners
  • Conduct appropriate training for staff, stakeholders and volunteers (e.g. Mental Health First Aid)
  • Promote clear offer to link workers
  • Carefully consider duty of care – ensure participants are aware of how they can access clinical or other support, and seek feedback on their experiences of engaging with Historic England’s offer
  • Ensure delivery is inclusive and accessible, encourage all to participate
  • Allow bespoke support to meet the needs of participants (e.g. attendance of a friend/carer to support)
  • Delivery of group sessions is recommended - ensure time is embedded for introductions, socialising, refreshments and breaks
  • Evaluate following best practice
  • Disseminate learnings and best practice across the sector