2000 reasons to celebrate as Connect North marks Social Prescribing Day
Connect North, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s social prescribing service, is marking an incredible milestone to coincide with Social Prescribing Day (Wednesday 19 March).
The service recently received its 2000th referral, connecting people with the social support they need to enhance their overall health and wellbeing.
Working in partnership with Age NI, Connect North takes a holistic approach to wellbeing, recognising that social factors like work, finances, housing issues, managing long-term conditions, and feelings of loneliness or isolation, are just as crucial to our health and wellbeing as our physical needs.
Reflecting on its success so far, Sabrina Lynn, the Northern Trust’s Health and Wellbeing Locality Lead, said: “From the outset, the team has been dedicated to helping people make connections and improve their wellbeing, and to know we have now helped 2000 people since our launch at the end of 2022 is fantastic news.
“There could be no better day to recognise this than Social Prescribing Day, which aims to highlight the positive impact social prescribing can have on people and communities.
“As well as making our 2000th in-person referral, we know that many more people have benefited from our online Directory of Services, which allows users to discover the services available in their own community through a central online information source.
“Collectively, our work aims to bridge the gap which can exist between support services and those who might benefit from them, and we are all delighted to be acknowledging this very special achievement today.”
If you think Connect North could make a difference to you, or someone you know, you can browse the Directory of Services by visiting www.elementalsoftware.site/connectnorth
If the right support can’t be found, a referral to a Connect North Link Worker might be the next step. Link Workers will assess each client’s needs and help to connect them with the right services and initiatives in their local community, ensuring their social needs are met and their wellbeing is improved.
To find out more about the service or making a referral please email connectnorth@northerntrust.hscni.net
Pictured above are, back row, Deborah Caskey, Julie Kennedy, Aimee McNaghten, Helen Metcalfe, front row, Sabrina Lynn, Evelyn Booker (Connect North Service User representative) and Claire Ramsey.
19th March 2025
