Offaly Local Development celebrates ‘National Social Prescribing Day’

Tullamore library celebrated ‘National Social Prescribing Day’ by hosting an event in conjunction with Offaly Local Development Company.

There was a great turnout at on Wednesday, March 19, as Michelle Quinn and Aoife Kelly, the Social Prescribing team from Offaly Local Development Company, hosted an event celebrating the people, community groups and organisations that work together to make social prescribing possible.

Michelle explained that Social Prescribing is a service that empowers people to improve their overall health and wellbeing by connecting them with community activities and supports, from social groups, arts and exercise classes, to volunteering and educational courses.

The Offaly Well Connected Social Prescribing service is funded by the HSE and hosted by Offaly Local Development Company.

The theme for the day was ‘Wellbeing through Community Connections’ and we heard from Olive from Tullamore Women’s shed, Eddie from Tullamore Men’s shed, Marie, development worker, Tullamore Family Resource Centre about the supports that they provide in the community.

Niall from The Feinics Centre, Community Mental Health Service also spoke about the importance of individuals who attend the service to take part in community activities like walking groups and coffee mornings.

The event also featured Catriona Murray, Clinical Nurse Specialist, who refers individuals into the service, and finds it to be a huge benefit to people who are struggling with isolation, loneliness and mental health issues to get that personal support to access groups and activities in the Community.

Three participants of the service also spoke of their experience and how being supported to access art groups and personal development courses has made a big difference for them, improving their confidence and social circle.

Also addressing the crowd was Amanda Caulfield, HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Officer and Roisin Lennon, CEO Offaly Local Development Company.

The event was also the opportunity to launch the Art Exhibition ‘Creative Connections – Wellbeing through creativity’ which will run in Tullamore library until Monday, March 31.

This exhibition is a collection of art work from groups that promote wellbeing through art and creativity including Tullamore Women’s Shed, Tullamore Men’s Shed, The Social Prescribing Craft group, The Wellness group at Tullamore Family Resource Centre and The Feinics Centre, Community Mental Health Service.

For further information on Social Prescribing please call Michelle (Tullamore) on 087 7470562 or Aoife (Birr) 087 7385989 who are based in Offaly Local Development Company.