Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps she has taken to introduce social prescribing for (a) children and (b) young people.

As of June 2022, there were 2,662 social prescribing link workers and over 1.2 million referrals had been made, connecting people to agencies for practical, emotional and social support and to community groups and activities. Primary Care Networks and local systems are encouraged to work with local stakeholders to develop social prescribing provision and community assets in the area. Social prescribing is a universal offer and local areas devise plans in line with the needs of the local population which can include adults, children and young people.