Review funding for social prescribing to tackle the UK's loneliness epidemic

Background

Loneliness affects millions across the UK. 3.1 million adults feel lonely often or always, costing the NHS an estimated £850 per person each year, around £2.6bn in total, and linked to a 29% higher risk of coronary heart disease and a 32% higher risk of stroke.

Additional details

Social prescribing connects people to community activities and support, alongside medical care, to improve health and wellbeing. A two-year government pilot referred over 8,500 people to nature-based activities, achieving an 85% uptake rate and delivering £2.42 of social value for every £1 invested. Yet we believe provision remains patchy and underfunded. We ask the Government to review funding for social prescribing, including a 10-year £1bn Shared Investment Fund across all 42 Integrated Care Systems, as proposed by NASP, so people can access meaningful human connection before reaching a crisis point.

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