Step Up is an exciting new project run by BLISS=Ability and funded by the Big Lottery around social prescribing for residents in South Tyneside. Social prescribing has been described as “a means of enabling services to refer clients or individuals with social, emotional or practical needs to a range of local non-clinical and community services”. What this means in layman’s terms, is support to go out and about and being able to access activities and services in the local community.

People with low mood or who feel socially isolated tend to feel a loss of motivation and well being and so feel less inclined to do anything. Social prescribing is way of finding something to do that the individual will enjoy, which will help lift their mood and motivate them and increases a sense of well being.

On joining the service, either by being referred by a professional or by themselves, an individual meets a trained Social Navigator, Pamela and Anne are knowledgeable in what is going on in the local area. They help people find an activity that they will enjoy. This makes things easier for the individual as they do all the leg work!

To find out what things a person likes, Anne or Pamela, will set up a one-to one meeting with an individual. At the meeting they will chat with the person to learn more about them and their likes and dislikes and how they feel. For example, are they anxious meeting new people or going new places.

They will then research what activities the individual may like to do and may be of interest. They can map bus routes, find out times of activities and whether there is a cost.
If an individual needs a little more help to access an activity we can pair them up with one of our trained Volunteer Well Being Mentors. They can support an individual to join a group or activity for as long as they need help. This might be supporting with travelling or walking into a room for the first time or what ever the individual needs.

We are with our clients every step of the way – for as long as we are needed.

You can help the Step Up project in 3 ways:
• By telling people about us and promoting our Step Up service or,
• By accessing Step Up and getting out and about in your local community with or without a volunteer Wellbeing Mentor or,
• By joining us as a Wellbeing Mentor and supporting people doing things they enjoy in their local area.

For more information contact Angela Dunn at BLISS=Ability on (0191) 427 1666)