Using WELLBYs to demonstrate the social value of social prescribing at a national level: evidence from Green Social Prescribing in England

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DAYSON, Christopher, WILSON, Ian, LEATHER, David, FOSTER, Alexis, JACQUES, Richard, HAYWOOD, Annette, GARSIDE, Ruth, HARRIS, Catherine, HUNT, Harriet, HOLDING, Eleanor, HUST, Kerryn, LOVELL, Rebecca, SHEARN, Katie, DOBSON, Julian and THOMPSON, Jill (2026). Using WELLBYs to demonstrate the social value of social prescribing at a national level: evidence from Green Social Prescribing in England. People, Place and Policy Online, 20 (1), 1-20. [Article]

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Abstract
Social prescribing is a health policy initiative that aims to create closer links between health services and community activities. Despite its rapid adoption there are concerns about efficacy and value for money. We used a WELLBY (Wellbeing Adjusted Life Year) approach to identify the social value created through a national mental health-focussed green social prescribing (GSP) programme in England (2021-23). We found that GSP can lead to significant wellbeing benefits for people experiencing mental ill-health, with a social return on investment (SROI) of between £2.38-£5.90. However, we argue that the WELLBY approach should not be used uncritically. In our study WELLBYs proved to be an effective social value measure for low to mid cost GSP pathways where the target beneficiaries are likely to have mild to moderate mental health needs. For higher cost pathways providing targeted support for people with severe mental health needs the WELLBY was less effective and clinical measures of value may be more appropriate.
More Information
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.3351/ppp.2026.3524966557
Open Access URL:
https://ppp-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/...
Open Access Version:
Published version
Uncontrolled Keywords:
1605 Policy and Administration; 1608 Sociology; 1801 Law; 4407 Policy and administration; 4408 Political science

Identifiers

Identification Number:
10.3351/ppp.2026.3524966557
ORCID for Christopher Dayson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2402-1183
ORCID for Ian Wilson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8813-3382
ORCID for Katie Shearn: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-7209-8404
ORCID for Julian Dobson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6164-2707

Library

Publisher:
Sheffield Hallam University
Item Type:
Article
SWORD Depositor:
Symplectic Elements
Depositing User:
Symplectic Elements
Date record made live:
10 Jun 2026 10:47
Last Modified:
10 Jun 2026 12:15
Date of first compliant deposit:
10 June 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:
10 June 2026
Version of first compliant deposit:
Version of Record
ISSN:
1753-8041
Page Range:
1-20
Volume:
20
URI:
https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/37566
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