As part of Social Prescribing schemes, volunteering is becoming recognised as an efficient and an increasingly popular way of addressing inclusion and diversity by reducing health inequalities and well-being concerns through higher rates of civic engagement and physical activity.

 

Research proves that volunteering has a positive impact on inclusion and diversity as well as on mental and physical health leading to reduced inequalities. When the social prescribing involves physical activity support from volunteers in an urban/community garden it is particularly beneficial for patients with physical health issues such as people recovering from cancer.

 

Furthermore, people who are referred to voluntary organisations to improve their health and wellbeing, when their issues are resolved, frequently become volunteers themselves to help other people facing similar issues as they did therefore increasing further civic engagement more broadly. Volunteering is not currently the most often-employed activity within the Social Prescribing framework and the outcomes from the SPACE project intend to contribute to the argument to increase provision of social prescription as well as the practical capacity through volunteering for the stakeholders concerned.