Loving our neighbour: The role of faith for the future of the health service

One in five GP appointments are for non-medical reasons. At a time when demand for GP appointments is at an all-time high and the pressure on secondary services is overwhelming, Lord Darzi’s 2024 report stresses the need to prioritise neighbourhood level care, prevent ill-health and tackle health inequalities. 

On 30 January ChurchWorks launched our research report, in partnership with Theos, into the role that churches and faith groups are already playing in social prescribing and the potential to increase the depth and breadth of their impact. 

Social prescribing plays a vital role in providing practical support for people who are struggling with loneliness, low-level mental health conditions, caring responsibilities and financial issues such as debt. 

At our report launch, Dr Marianne Rozario, lead researcher for this project, outlined the wonderful work that faith communities are already offering when it comes to connecting with social prescribing. From community choirs, to debt counselling, to befriending and craft groups, faith communities are a consistent community presence with local networks, volunteers and buildings who can provide safe spaces where pastoral and spiritual support can be offered for those who wish to access it. These are valuable community assets that go beyond what the NHS is able to offer and can prevent future ill-health through ‘health creation’.

If faith groups are more closely connected into the health system through initiatives such as social prescribing, the potential impact on the wellbeing of our communities is significant. 

“If we can work better together, if we can build those bridges that social prescribing offers as a mechanism, we can reach more people who might not trust the NHS, who might be from more deprived communities, who might face challenges, life inequalities, and may not feel comfortable accessing healthcare in the way that it's currently accessed,” said Charlotte Osborn-Forde CEO of the National Academy of Social Prescribing. “Faith communities play that key role of working collaboratively with the NHS, as we've seen in this report.”

Through our practical ‘how-to’ guides for faith leaders and social prescribing link workers, we have distilled the key findings of our research into a format that can be implemented by local leaders in faith and healthcare settings. Our report recommendations also go beyond this to outline how faith and social prescribing can be integrated at a ‘place’ and ‘systems’ level. In particular we call for a ‘Faith Lead’ to be seconded into the National Academy of Social Prescribing in order to better integrate faith communities into NHS and social care plans. 

Speaking on 30 January, Jude Levermore, Vice Chair of the ChurchWorks Commission, shared her intention to pursue the implementation of the recommendations “at all levels of the churches’ life”. 

Following the launch of our report, Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said: “Faith groups are continuing a beautiful, centuries-old tradition of caring for your neighbour. They are delivering front line activities that will play a key role in shifting the focus of our health service from hospital to community, and sickness to prevention in the coming years. I welcome this report from Theos [and the Good Faith Partnership], which asks the right questions about how we can link faith groups into the system to provide partnership and support.”

As we await the release of the 10-year NHS plan, Sir Stephen Timms MP, the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, echoed the Secretary of State’s affirmation of the value of faith groups in the future of our public services. Minister Timms reminded us of the Prime Minister’s promise made before the 2024 election that he would encourage local authorities to sign faith covenants in order to promote collaboration at a local level. “The report here is contributing to a wider debate. I hope for deepening partnership between government, national and local and faith communities,” said Sir Stephen. 

There is a clear opportunity for faith groups to contribute to the neighbourhood health service and we’re delighted to provide our recommendations for how to achieve this. At ChurchWorks we will continue to collaborate across faith, the NHS and government to realise this potential.

“Social prescribing is a weapon for revival and renewal in the church’s armoury—an opportunity to bring healing, hope, and transformation to the nation,” said Patrick Harding, Founder of the Joy App. “If faith groups and the health system fully step into this space, in 10 years’ time we’ll look back and see not just a healthier nation, but lives restored, communities renewed, and more people encountering the love of their maker.”

 Read our report and how-to guides on the ChurchWorks Wellbeing page.