Mercian PCN Social Prescribers

24/08/2026

💙💛 How might you mark Ukrainian Independence Day? 🇺🇦

Today, 24th August, is Ukrainian Independence Day — a day to celebrate Ukrainian identity, culture, heritage and community, while sharing hopes for peace and a brighter future.

There are lots of simple ways we can mark the day and show solidarity with our Ukrainian friends and neighbours:

🇺🇦 Wear blue and yellow – the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

🍲 Discover Ukrainian food – try making or sharing a traditional Ukrainian dish such as borshch, varenyky or holubtsi.

🎶 Explore Ukrainian culture – listen to Ukrainian music, discover Ukrainian art, literature or traditions, or learn a few words of Ukrainian.

🤝 Reach out with friendship – if you know someone from Ukraine, a simple message wishing them a peaceful Independence Day can mean a great deal.

💙💛 Display the Ukrainian colours – perhaps put a blue and yellow ribbon, flag or handmade picture in your window.

🕊️ Take a moment for reflection – remember those affected by the continuing war and share a hope for peace, safety and freedom.

💷 Support a Ukrainian cause – consider donating to a reputable organisation supporting people affected by the war or Ukrainian communities here in the UK.

Above all, we can mark today through something that costs nothing: kindness, friendship and making people feel welcome in our community.

From everyone at Community Together CIC, we wish our Ukrainian friends, neighbours and families a peaceful Ukrainian Independence Day.

💙 З Днем Незалежності, Україно! 💛
Happy Independence Day, Ukraine! 🇺🇦

fans

19/08/2026

Tamworth Borough Council

15/07/2026

Laurel House Surgery Peel Medical Practice Riverside Surgery Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board The Hollies Medical Practice Crown Medical Practice Tamworth Borough Council

💙 **One phone call can change someone's day. Thousands of phone calls can change a community.** 💙

Since launching our **Community Together CIC Telephone Befriending Service** in **2020**, we've been privileged to support people who are living alone, feeling isolated or experiencing loneliness.

What started as a simple conversation has become a lifeline for so many.

📞 **30,000+ telephone befriending calls**
🤝 **8,000 connections** to community groups, social activities and support services

Behind every number is a person.

Someone who needed a friendly voice.
Someone who had no one else to talk to.
Someone who needed reassurance, encouragement or simply to know that somebody cared.

Our volunteers and team have helped reconnect people with their communities, build confidence, reduce loneliness and support people to live healthier, happier and more independent lives.

The impact of loneliness reaches far beyond feeling alone. It can affect physical health, mental wellbeing and independence. Research has shown that services tackling loneliness and social isolation can deliver a **Social Return on Investment of £3.42 for every £1 invested**, while significantly improving people's wellbeing, confidence and quality of life.

Every conversation matters.
Every connection counts.
Every call reminds someone that they are not alone.

A very special **thank you to Tamworth Soroptimists** for their incredible commitment to our Telephone Befriending Service. Their volunteers have generously given their time, compassion and friendship, helping us continue to support people when they need it most. Your dedication has made a real difference to the lives of so many, and we are truly grateful for your ongoing support.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported, volunteered with or believed in Community Together CIC. Together, we're proving that kindness, compassion and a simple phone call can make an extraordinary difference.

💙 **30,000+ calls. 8,000 life-changing connections. Countless moments of hope.**

**Because no one should feel alone.**

15/07/2026

Peel Medical Practice Laurel House Surgery Tamworth Borough Council Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board Crown Medical Practice Riverside Surgery The Hollies Medical Practice

🚐💙 **301 journeys. 5,117 miles. £11,137 saved. Countless lives made easier.** 💙🚐

On **1st October 2025**, we proudly launched **Betty's Transport** in memory of **Betty**, a much-loved Social Prescribing service user who we had the privilege of supporting for many years.

Betty spent **40 years** as a **Midland Red ticket collector**, helping people get from A to B. Today, her legacy lives on by ensuring people can still make the journeys that matter most.

In just a short time, Betty's Transport has:
🚗 Completed **301 essential medical journeys**
🛣️ Travelled **5,117 miles**
💷 **Saved local people a staggering £11,137** compared with commercial transport costs
❤️ Removed the stress and worry of getting to vital healthcare appointments.

Whether it's a GP consultation, dental appointment, X-ray, physiotherapy, routine injection, pre-operative appointment or hospital visit, Betty's Transport is ensuring that **no one misses out on healthcare because they can't get there.**

For many of the people we support, these journeys would have been difficult, unaffordable or simply impossible without Betty's Transport. By providing low-cost, compassionate and reliable transport, we're helping people attend life-changing appointments, maintain their independence and access the care they deserve.

Every mile travelled is about so much more than transport. It's about reducing isolation, improving health, easing anxiety and giving people peace of mind when they need it most.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make Betty's Transport such a success. Together, we're not just providing lifts—we're changing lives, one journey at a time, while proudly honouring Betty's incredible legacy.

Do you need help with hospital transport then please contact us 0808 175 4041

💙 **Compassionate. Reliable. Affordable. Because everyone deserves access to healthcare.**

15/07/2026

💙 **The Power of Social Prescribing** 💙

Over the past **6 years**, our Mercian Primary Care Network Social Prescribing Service has been changing lives across our community—and we're incredibly proud of what we've achieved together.

📊 **10,232 referrals** received across our **9 GP practices**

Supporting people through:
🤝 **7,720 face-to-face appointments**
📞 **8,376 telephone appointments**
🌍 **10,506 connections** to community groups, charities and support services

The outcomes speak for themselves:

✨ **43% improvement in overall wellbeing**
💪 **20% improvement in physical fitness**
❤️ **20% reduction in loneliness and social isolation**
⚖️ **40% improvement in maintaining weight loss**
🩺 **40% improvement in managing long-term health conditions**
🧩 **40% increase in people with neurodiversity accessing the support they need**

These aren't just statistics—they represent thousands of people living healthier, happier and more independent lives.

Over the lifetime of the service, the investment has supported more than **10,000 people**. Based on published national evidence for social prescribing, this level of impact is estimated to have generated **over £5 million in social and health value**—a conservative return of **more than £8.70 for every £1 invested** through improved wellbeing, better management of long-term conditions, reduced loneliness, stronger community connections and reduced demand on NHS services.

This is the power of prevention.
This is the power of community.
**This is the power of social prescribing.**

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Social Prescribing Team, our nine GP practices, our voluntary and community sector partners, and every individual who has allowed us to be part of their journey.

Together, we're proving that investing in people and communities doesn't just transform lives—it delivers exceptional value for our NHS and the communities we serve.

💙 **Changing lives. Strengthening communities. Delivering value.**

08/07/2026