Social Prescribing Day – 19th March 2025
Social Prescribing Day is an annual celebration of the incredible people, organisations, and communities who bring social prescribing to life. This includes local, national, and international organisations, link workers, medical professionals, academics, and students.
The day is all about raising awareness of what social prescribing is, how it works, and the profound impact it has on people’s lives.
We asked Bobbie Bowden what she finds most rewarding about her role as PAVO Community Connector for Llanfyllin:
“For me, it’s having a ‘What Matters’ conversation with each person to understand the barriers they face in finding happiness, joy, and connection—and then helping them overcome those barriers.
“It’s a holistic approach that looks at all aspects of a person’s life, involving problem-solving and working closely with different agencies and statutory services to offer compassionate support.
“I think it’s amazing that social prescribing is now an option. So many people have become isolated and lonely, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, and need extra support to reconnect with their community.
“With statutory services busier than ever, I feel proud that we work alongside GP surgeries and other services to support people who may not need medical care but do need support from someone.
“As a non-specific service, we have the flexibility to support people in many different areas of their lives, always being led by them and their needs.”
Bobbie shared an example of how her support made a real difference to someone’s life:
“One scenario that stands out was helping a woman who had lost her husband and was struggling to reconnect with her community.
“She had previously been very active in local groups and activities, but after her husband passed away, she withdrew for over a year.
“Her GP referred her to me because she was feeling pressure to ‘get back out there’ from friends and family.
“After a ‘What Matters’ conversation I realised she hadn’t fully processed her husband’s death and felt stuck and alone in her grief.
“I arranged a referral for grief counseling and checked in with her regularly over a few weeks. Each time we spoke, she felt slightly more capable, and eventually, she was ready to start socializing again.
“But there was another obstacle—she didn’t have transport. Her husband had always been the driver, and they did everything together. So I connected her with her local community transport scheme.
“By the end of the process, she was attending all the groups she had enjoyed before her husband passed away.
“She told me that having someone to talk to and validate her experience made all the difference. Just knowing someone cared enough to check in gave her the confidence to step back into the world.
“The longer we isolate ourselves, the harder it is to take that first step back into our community. That’s where social prescribing can make all the difference.”
About PAVO Community Connector Service
PAVO Community Connectors support people aged 18 and over by helping them access local services, including transport, benefits and financial support, health and wellbeing resources, voluntary support, and community activities.
Funded by the Powys Regional Partnership Board, the service takes a person-centred approach, focusing on what matters most to each individual. By providing guidance and connections to non-clinical support, the service empowers people to make informed decisions about their wellbeing.