The National Academy for Social Prescribing will work to:
1) standardise the quality and range of social prescribing available to patients across the country
2) increase awareness of the benefits of social prescribing by building and promoting the evidence base
3) develop and share best practice, as well as looking at new models and sources for funding
4) bring together all partners from health, housing and local government with arts, culture and sporting organisations to maximise the role of social prescribing
5) focus on developing training and accreditation across sectors.
The independent academy will receive £5 million of government funding and will be led by Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, the outgoing Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners.