Celebrating Social Prescribing Day: Spotlighting Rawmarsh Hub

Today is Social Prescribing Day, an annual celebration of all the people and communities that make it what it is. We wanted to mark this occasion by telling you a bit more about Rotherham Social Prescribing Hub ("Rawmarsh Hub" or "the Hub") which is utilised by a number of our members to provide social prescribing activities to the community.

NHS Property Services make this facility available to the Voluntary and Community Sector in Rotherham, and we are then responsible for coordinating its usage. All attendees have to be over 18 years, but it is open to people across the Borough!

Rotherham Social Prescribing Hub

The overall aim of Social Prescribing is to improve health and wellbeing by helping people become more connected, resilient and better able to self-care. Rawmarsh Hub, and the many groups that currently use the space, really demonstrate the diversity of Social Prescribing.

Currently using the space on a weekly basis are:

• Headway: A social group for people with brain injury or their families and carers, playing Bingo and other games.

• You Ask We Respond: Health and wellness activities, including "Recipe Exchange".

• Live Inclusive: A range of different activities, occasional meals out and benefit checks, for those with disabilities.

• Link Worker Coffee Morning: Coffee with Quiz, all welcome and run by Social Prescribing link workers.

• RANSS (Rotherham Adult Neurodiversity Support Service): Arts, crafts and days out doing different activities for autistic adults/adults with ADHD (18+).

• RCPF (Rotherham Parent Carer Forum): For parents and carers of SEND (Special educational needs and disabilities) – a coffee morning, activities and training sessions.

• Impressive Expression: Complementary therapies, including massage (only open to people directly reffered from Rotherham Social Prescribing Service).

• Nayi Zindagi: A relaxed, social group.

• The Rainbow Project: Yoga and crafts, open to all who are LGBTQIA+ friendly.

• Pen and Purpose: Mindfulness through creative writing/ journaling and crafting. Open to all!

• Women Ask: Women's peer to peer mental health group, no pressure to talk, just come along and listen.

We head out to visit the centre whilst Headway Rotherham are running one of their social groups. The room is absolutely packed full of people, laughing and sharing stories with each other. There are rounds of teas and coffees being made and distributed by two volunteers.

We meet Sadie Bratt, Community Development & Engagement Co-Ordinator for Headway, who is setting up the Bingo machine and making sure everyone is happy and comfortable. She is helped by her mother, one of the volunteers on the day, who is on drinks duty, and much to our surprise can remember all the orders without writing them down!

The room is full of positive energy and laughter, and feels like a really strong community of people, all coming together to have fun, offer support and friendship.

We've got a page on our website which tells you a bit more about Social Prescribing, as well as the different Social Prescribing pathways in Rotherham. We also send out a monthly newsletter for those working in the field of Social Prescribing, a great way to keep up with specific news and training opportunities!

If you would like to find out more about the Hub, you can contact Nicola Evans here at VAR - nicola.evans@varotherham.org.uk.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to Rotherham's Social Prescribing offer and makes it what it is every day of the year!