The social prescribing project was developed to broaden the choice of non-clinical support options for those who are struggling with their sense of connection and their mental health.
As a result of Covid-19 lockdowns, new online programmes were developed. In 2021 Unlock and Revive was designed for those living with dementia and other brain-related conditions. It focuses on using heritage as a springboard to provide opportunities for those who are mostly housebound to feel part of something social.
The Prescribe Culture Lead is now looking for volunteers to help with the new programme. While you don’t need any specific skills, you do need to be passionate about any place, person or collections that tell stories of heritage. This could be food or football history. It could be stories of people, whether it’s a well-known name like Charles Darwin or Jane Austen or lesser-known heritage stories. The key factor is that the subject becomes a gateway for the members to think about their own lives, experiences and opinions on things.
Training sessions will be provided to help volunteers understand the needs of this particular membership group and how best to engage with them online.
Unlock and Revive sessions run for 45 minutes, 15 minutes for the volunteer sharing their heritage story as conversational inspiration before the host facilitates interactions with the members. You can help with as many, or as few sessions, as you’d like.
If you’d like to find out more please contact PrescribeCulture@ed.ac.uk
Photography: Jim Stephenson