Community Health Partnerships (CHP) continues to champion social prescribing initiatives across the country, supporting a range of projects within the LIFT portfolio that help connect people to non-clinical services and improve overall wellbeing.
As part of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Government set out how it will create a more integrated community health service. This included placing social prescribing links into primary care networks, making it central to the shift from hospital into community and driving prevention to keep people healthier for longer reducing the need for traditional medication.
A recent example of a social prescribing initiative in action can be seen in Hampshire, with CHP’s Operations and Relationship Manager (ORM), Lee Williams, working to create garden spaces to support social prescribing at Brune Medical Centre, Gosport, and Fareham Community Hospital, Sarisbury. Lee has worked alongside Love Outdoors CIC, a local social enterprise dedicated in providing people access to the outdoors to improve health and wellbeing.
As a result, several vibrant, green spaces are available to be enjoyed by patients, staff and members of the public working hand in hand with other health preventative measures.
Local Primary Care Networks can now prescribe time in community gardens for patients who may benefit, helping to tackle issues such as social isolation and mental health challenges through nature-based interventions.
Another example of CHP’s work supporting prevention in the community is the Eco-Therapy Garden at Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre which provides a vital green space offering individuals a place to connect with nature, improve their mental health and combat social isolation. The garden’s personalised eco and talking therapy programmes have proven invaluable for those facing a range of health challenges.
The strong links between the garden and the GPs at the centre are evident with over 80% of volunteers joining through social prescribing. This statistic highlights the garden’s positive impact on the mental and physical well-being of the community served by the Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre.
CHP receives Award for Green Fund initiative
CHP is proud to have received the Bronze Award at this year’s Building Better Healthcare Awards 2025 in the Best External Environment/Landscaping Project category for our Green Fund initiative.
The CHP Green Fund is designed to invest in and enhance healthcare environments, promote biodiversity, and improve wellbeing for patients, staff, and visitors alike – creating spaces that truly support health and sustainability. ORMs can apply for funding to help deliver projects that will benefit building users.
The Green Fund project demonstrates that even modest investments in landscaping, green spaces and areas that help those within the community can bring huge benefits. By turning grey spaces green, CHP are creating environments that heal, connect, and inspire.
Social prescribing is becoming increasingly important throughout the NHS. I have enjoyed watching how our buildings have developed to support patients’ recovery in a different way. The gardens give a sense of community and purpose to those who need it most. Winning the Bronze award at this year’s Building Better Healthcare awards is vindication of the hard work of our CHP colleagues and partners in creating these spaces
I’m in a very fortunate position to support amazing social prescribing projects across Hampshire. Seeing something grow from seed to produce on a plate is such a simple but powerful concept that can be life-changing for an individual. Some have medical reasons, others are trying to fight their own isolation or mental health, and some just love a being involved. The gardens give routine and purpose to leaving the house
Find out more about Buildings at the Heart of the Community
CHP’s Buildings at the Heart of the Community initiative aims to encourage local community groups and charities to make the most of our buildings by enabling the use of space in our centres to host health and wellbeing related events.
