Black Heritage Walks Network is an approved provider for The National Academy for Social Prescribing Thriving Communities programme. This is a new national support programme for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups, supporting communities impacted by COVID -19 and health inequalities.
Social prescribing is a way for health professionals, such as social prescribing link workers based in a GP practice, to connect people to activities in the community for practical and emotional support. It helps people get more control over their healthcare, to manage their needs and in a way that suits them. It can especially help people who:
• have one or more long-term condition
• need support with their mental health
• are lonely or isolated
• have complex social needs which affect their well-being.
We support social prescribing link workers through the provision of a range of culturally sensitive activities such as walks, volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice, holistic well-being and a range of sports.
Our current social prescribing projects include:
- Eat Walk Learn – Our Black History funded by Perry Barr Neighbourhood Network and in partnership 2 Much Passion CIC
- Mobile Health Outreach, in partnership with Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust
- Culturally Centred Dementia Support, in partnership with Pearl Support Network
- Black Women’s Skating Activity, in partnership with Sistahood on Wheels
- Friends of St Thomas’ Peace Garden
- Tackling Health Inequalities - Health walks and well-being workshops n partnership with Dawn 'Walkers' and The Active Well Being Society
- Digital poverty workshops, in partnership with Know Hope Digital
- Youth heritage and arts programme, in partnership with Maia Group
- Cultural arts & documentaries, in partnership with Create Not Destroy
- Cuultural theatre workshops, in partnership with China Plate
- Library workshops and activities, in partnership with The Kevin Duffy Foundation
- 'Lets Breathe Together - mental health & resilience podcast, in partnership with UCAN Birmingham and funded by Enterprise Holdings
- Music therapy workshops, in partnership with Making Connections Work
- Black Health Matters Conference 2021
We are always looking to build new partnerships across sectors, including arts, financial well-being, natural environment, leisure, physical activity and sport, health and care to network, share and explore new ways to collaborate to improve health outcomes for the black community.
