Churches make a difference : Our role in the holistic wellbeing of our communities

We’re all aware of the pressures on our public services and the urgent need for more effective, consistent and timely health and social care across the UK. 

The government is determined to cut waiting times for medical appointments and Wes Streeting has cast a vision for a ‘neighbourhood health service’ where individuals will be able to access medical care in their local area. However, even if the NHS are able to better meet the medical needs of patients, there is increasing recognition that health and wellbeing is broader than physical health and that social health, and practical support, are both needed in communities and have significant impact on lowering the demand for GP appointments. 

Social prescribing is one way that the NHS is seeking to work with community based organisations in order to better promote social, emotional and spiritual health. 

In January 2025, we published our report, in partnership with Theos, exploring the role of faith groups in social prescribing. Alongside this, we shared our ‘how-to guides’- practical step by step guides for engaging in social prescribing. 

Our ‘how-to guide’ for faith leaders clearly outlines how you can play your role in promoting the wellbeing of your local community, not by providing more, but by joining up with your local social prescribing team. 

‘…we’re not just processing numbers, we’re not just bringing people in and ticking

the box and churning them out the other end, we actually take time with people,

we do offer that holistic approach,’ said a church leader in our research. 

A GP that we interviewed affirmed this view, ‘…a primary advantage is for the individual patient - that they’re getting holistic care, they’re not just getting one need met, but they might get two or three needs met.’

Churches have a significant role to play- not only in alleviating the current demand for healthcare, but by providing the holistic support that we need in communities to promote long term wellbeing. 

Have a look at our ‘how-to guides’ today to find out how you can take the first step towards building relationships with your local social prescribing link workers and playing your role in holistic healthcare. 

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