It all starts with one question: what matters to you? 

At our Therapy & Wellbeing Centre, social prescribing always begins with a simple question: what matters to you? 

For Jill Frampton, Social Prescriber in our Outpatients Team, that’s where every conversation begins. 

“Social prescribing is anything non-medical that’s important to a patient or carer,” Jill explains.

“When I see someone for the first time, I ask them what’s changed, what feels heavy, and what they’d like to be different. Then we explore it together.” 

Jill allows up to 90 minutes for the first session. “Once the layers start to come off, it’s amazing how much people want to talk about. Having the time to really listen can make all the difference.” 

Sometimes, those conversations reveal small things that mean a great deal. 

One patient mentioned she loved building Lego. But after changes in her health meant she could no longer work, buying new sets became too expensive.  

“She absolutely loved doing Lego,” Jill says. “It gave her something positive to focus on.” 

So Jill did some digging. She found a Lego subscription service, giving access to hundreds of sets for a manageable monthly fee.  

“She’s absolutely delighted,” Jill said. “She can carry on doing what she loves without the expense of buying brand new every time.  

“And it’s made such a difference to her mental health and overall wellbeing, lifting her mood and giving her a positive focus.” 

Social prescribing in action.  

Sometimes social prescribing means practical support. Other times it’s connecting people, carers’ support, creative activities, gentle exercise or opportunities to spend time in nature, including visiting our Contemplation Trail at Shugborough Estate.  

“It’s so varied. No two days are ever the same,” Jill says. “But when someone reconnects with something that matters to them, that’s when you see the real change.”