By Isle of Wight Observer
Island Charity Independent Arts is part of the world’s first International Social Prescribing Day on 14th March 2019, which will highlight the importance and significance of social prescribing within healthcare and its potential benefits for wellbeing for people across the world.
Social prescribing is a healthcare model that takes a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. Social prescribing enables people to be issued with a non-medical prescription to connect to local community services to improve their health and wellbeing.
Independent Arts runs a number of projects that can assist in improving health and wellbeing using the arts. These include; Anxiety Café, a group aimed at improving people’s community connections, reducing feelings of isolation and building confidence. DanceSense, a creative dance project for adults living with neurological conditions which affect movement, and Singing for Breathing which supports patients with chronic respiratory illnesses, improving lung function through singing and vocal exercises.
Independent Arts also offers SingAbout, designed to improve confidence, breathing and memory as well as fostering community through singing, and DanceMakers, designed to improve balance, memory and general fitness through gentle and creative dance.
In addition, a new Independent Arts project ReMap, will be launched on 20th March in conjunction with the Chronic Pain department, St Mary’s Hospital. This project is designed to help people manage their chronic pain through movement and mindfulness.
Michael Dixon, co-founder of The Social Prescribing Network and GP said: “Social Prescribing represents an entirely new approach to healing and health that uses the resources within our communities rather than drugs or medical procedures. It has been shown to benefit patients and reduce the demand on hospitals and GP surgeries and will, in future, be a crucial part of ensuring that our health service remains financially sustainable. International Social Prescribing Day will be an opportunity to celebrate a new way for patients and clinicians”
To find out more about any of these projects please contact Independent Arts on 01983 822437 or visit their website www.independentarts.org.uk
Isle of Wight Observer