The relationship is the intervention, but data proves its worth

As policymakers and system leaders increasingly focus on the relationship between health and economic inactivity, the importance of evidence in shaping future approaches continues to grow. Following a Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HINENC) event on the role of research and evaluation in this debate, our Head of Communications and Marketing Jule Coulson reflects on what this means for social prescribing, and why building confidence in data is key to demonstrating the impact of relationship-based support.

“Having been part of the first year of the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority’s Economic Inactivity Tralblazer, it was fantastic to hear some real results from across the region and beyond, at ‘Health and Economic Inactivity: What is research and evaluation telling us to inform NENC approaches?’

“The day brought together researchers, practitioners and system leaders to explore one of the region's most pressing challenges - the relationship between health and economic inactivity, and what research and evaluation can tell us about how we can respond more effectively.

“A recurring theme throughout the day was not just the importance of evidence, but how much more of it exists than that which explicitly grabs the attention of policymakers. As systems seek to improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities, and support more people to participate in work and community life, of course there is increasing demand to understand what works, for whom, and why. But it is also crucial that such insight is shared more effectually, so it reflects the true picture, and ensures decisions are as informed as they can be.”

Combining stories and statistics

“One speaker contribution that particularly resonated came from Dan Jackson, Director of Policy and Stakeholder Affairs at the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care Board (ICB), and Assistant Director of Public Service Reform, Health and Prevention at the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, who reflected on a principle that many working in social prescribing have understood for years; the relationship is the intervention.

“As Dan stated, there is growing recognition that lasting change rarely comes from short-term interventions alone. Instead, it is built through trusted relationships, personalised support, and the time needed to help people understand and respond to the complexities that often combine to form barriers to them enjoying good health and wellbeing, and feeling able to fully participate in life and work.

“For organisations like Ways to Wellness, and many others across the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, this is already very well understood, because long-term relational work has always been at the heart of our approach. We see every day how skilled link workers support people in numerous ways to navigate challenges that simply cannot be fully solved through clinical treatment alone, and empower them to build confidence, reconnect with their communities, and take positive steps towards the goals that matter most to them.

“What is changing is that the evidence base increasingly reflects the experiences of practitioners and research participants alike. As research and evaluation continue to build the case for relationship-based approaches, in keeping with the push towards neighboorhood support that is central to the NHS 10-year plan, there is a growing opportunity to strengthen the case for social prescribing and other community-centred healthcare models.”

Bridging practice and policy

“The realisation Dan spoke of felt particularly timely because, just a few days after the HINENC event, we welcomed the first participants to the inaugural session of our new training programme, ‘Telling the story of your social prescribing impact using data’, which we’ve developed with the support of Dr Matt Cooper, Newcastle University, NortHFutures and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

“The programme has been designed to help link workers, and other practitioners involved in the delivery of social prescribing, to feel more confident in understanding and collecting data about their work, and communicating their findings in the most impactful way.

“At Ways to Wellness, we know some of the most significant outcomes of social prescribing are not always the easiest to measure. Increased confidence, stronger social connections, improved wellbeing, and a renewed sense of purpose can have a profound impact on people's lives, yet these outcomes do not always fit neatly into traditional reporting frameworks. This is why building confidence in data matters.”

Building a more complete picture

“The aim of this comprehensive training, which includes the follow-up option to book in an hour of one-to-one time with our Head of Digital Systems Sonia Townend, as well as a check-in within three months of attending to support the ongoing development of learning in practice, is not to turn frontline practitioners into analysts. It’s about helping people understand whether the data they already collect is appropriate to their needs, to optimise the opportunities this offers, and to identify ways in which statistics and patterns can be combined with powerful real-life quotes and stories, to create truly meaningful data, that contributes to the evidence base being drawn upon to inform system design and commissioning decisions.

“For many in attendance, their most profound realisation on the day wasn’t connected to the plethora of new tools available now that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more mainstream. It was how to make more of some of the every day programmes they’ve been using as standard.

“The discussions at HINENC echoed what we have long believed at Ways to Wellness, that raw data and lived experience are most powerful when they are put to work together. Data helps us identify patterns, trends and outcomes, and tools can help us amplify what we see in the raw figures, but it is the stories behind the numbers that explain why those outcomes matter, and help bring them to life in a way that really speaks to us as humans.”

Implications for future system design

“As social prescribing continues to play an increasingly important role in moving from sickness to prevention, neighbourhood health, and tackling health inequalities, there is a clear opportunity for the social prescribing community to strengthen its evidence base. By improving how we collect, interpret, and communicate data, we can better demonstrate the value of community-based approaches, and ensure they remain central to future health and economic strategies that improve lives and sustain healthier communities.”

If you are interested in taking part in one of our future sessions on ‘Telling the story of your social prescribing impact using data’, you can join us on either:

• 6 August at Acklam Green Centre, Middlesborough

• 19 August at The People First Conference Centre, Carlisle, or

• 21 August at The Durham Centre, Durham.

We will also be releasing online dates soon. Book a date before they fill up.