We’re really proud of our impact stats this year, but what the numbers don’t tell is the incredible stories of change we hear every day.

It could be a call from one of our clients to say they left the house for the first time in months, or the person who found a roof over their head, or the person who suddenly believes the challenges in their lives can change. These are stories that lift our day.

People tell us that the prime reasons for needing the service are loneliness and isolation, low mood, stress, and benefits, housing and debt advice. Responsiveness is key, and with support from our incredible volunteers we can ensure we’re in touch with people within one to two weeks of their initial referral.

Our social prescribing volunteers, who work in our offices and in GP surgeries across the city, make a huge impact. Through their hard work and dedication, we were able to support nearly 600 people in the city who desperately want to make changes in their lives in 2018-19.

And the impact of our volunteers is equally measured in our results. Of people surveyed who used the service, 94% reported a positive change in at least one area of their lives and 97% said they’d recommend the service to family or friends.

Last year, we also began to collaborate with local partners working with LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer); BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic); and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. We delivered specialist training on holistic social prescribing to these partners. This has helped us to champion good practice and widen the inclusiveness and accessibility of social prescribing in Brighton & Hove.

It’s been a fantastic year for Together Co Social Prescribing and we are truly grateful to our volunteers, our partners and to everyone who has supported our services. We look forward to making things even better in 2020.

Recent quotes from people supported by Together Co Social Prescribing:

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I really struggled to leave the house today but I am so glad I came to see you, I feel so much more hopeful.

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I really appreciated your help. It helped me focus and find what I needed and it was good just to talk issues through with you.

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I am much happier. I can’t believe how quickly you managed to get me the help I needed, I had been stuck for months.

Click here to find out more about our Social Prescribing service