Wrexham University to highlight importance of green social prescribing new short course

People wanting to gain an understanding of the importance of green prescribing as well as enhance their professional skills are being encouraged to enrol on a short course being run at Wrexham University. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Green Social Prescribing – Principles and Practice six-week course is aimed at those working in the social prescribing sector or who deliver green health activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, the course is also open to anyone who is interested in the subject. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Starting on 4 September, the course, which is free of charge to sign up to, will be taught through a blend of interactive workshops, delivered on campus, as well as being supported by online learning materials, which can be accessed at a time that is convenient to learners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Justine Mason, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Wellbeing at Prifysgol Wrecsam/Wrexham University, who is delivering the course, said: “Green social prescribing is a fast growing practice which aims to link people to engage in nature-based interventions and activities, mainly occurring within the community, to improve individuals’ mental health and wellbeing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Just last month, a report by charity, The Wildlife Trusts suggested that the NHS could save more than £635 million a year by prescribing and signing people up to nature-based health and wellbeing programmes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our Green Social Prescribing course aims to provide individuals, who enrol onto it, the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of green prescribing and enhance their professional skills, bringing together both social prescribers and those providing ‘green’ nature-based activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Enrol onto our course to help increase your understanding or enhance the service and activities that you deliver.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Further details about the Green Social Prescribing – Principles and Practice free course, including how to book, can be found here. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More information about the short courses on offer at Wrexham University can be found here or by emailing: [email protected]. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​