An independent evaluation by Leeds Beckett University highlights the achievements of Connect Together in delivering a high-quality social prescribing service that directly addresses health inequalities in Leeds.
Connect Together is an innovative social prescribing pilot project for children and young people funded by West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to address health inequalities. It provides support through one-to-one sessions, group work and engagement with services that improve health and wellbeing; delivered in community settings by a partnership of Barca-Leeds and Health For All. The service was evaluated by Leeds Beckett University in September 2023.
Key findings from the evaluation highlight that the Connect Together model of social prescribing has improved the lives of the young people in the following ways:
- Children and young people have reported increased confidence, which helps manage anxiety, and overcome low mood and they have built new social networks in the community.
- Physical health and wellbeing have been addressed in an integrated manner using a whole system approach, helping to make the link between children and young people’s diet, activity levels and sleep patterns.
- The whole family approach contributes to the success of Connect Together by including parents and carers within the problem solving and social support offered.
- Connection with wider community organisations has built new social networks, promoting better social and mental wellbeing for children and young people.
- Children and young people have felt supported within their schools and have been able to access appropriate support and advice, when, and if, alternative education is required.
- Integrated social prescribing within a primary care network acts as a link and a bridge for children and young people to access support and external community services.
- Connect Together works particularly well as an early intervention and/or preventive approach. Many of the issues the social prescribers are dealing with are wide-ranging and complex. These can often be resolved before they escalate into statutory concerns for children’s social care, the police, or educational organisations.
“At Barca-Leeds we always seek to deliver a positive impact for the whole family through our work with Children and Young People and I am delighted that this is a proven impact as one of the main findings of this evaluation by Leeds Beckett University.”
- Laura Whitaker Operations Director Children, Young People and Family Services
