We welcome the opportunity this debate provides to comment on the Health and Sport Committee’s inquiry into Social Prescribing, having submitted full written evidence to inform the inquiry.
As part of this evidence we drew on the views of children and young people who have worked with and been supported by us who we had asked about mental health and wellbeing services and support through various participative means. We were disappointed to see that the Committee’s final report didn’t make reference to children and young people and we also support the view of the Cross Party Group for Culture that the inquiry would benefited from a wider remit than physical activity.
A deeper understanding is needed of what young people need, and more importantly what they want – there is a danger that too simplistic an approach to social prescribing, even if well-intentioned, will not lead to the positive outcomes we want to see for our children and young people.