The Islington Social Prescribing Service for Children and Young People, provided by Isledon Arts CIC, helps young people navigate and access creative, social and sporting activities in the local community to support their mood and wellbeing.

Social prescribers initially work with young people for up to 12 weeks, creating a plan in line with their wellbeing goals. 

Please note: The social prescribers are not clinicians and they have a non-clinical role in supporting young people to improve their social, emotional, and mental health by connecting them to community services. The service does not include clinical intervention and so works at a lower level of need.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

Aged 11-25 and requiring support with mild-to-moderate wellbeing concerns such as:

• feeling low or unmotivated, not having much going on
• feeling isolated, loss of friendships
• school worries, e.g. bullying or academic issues
• managing low-level stress within school, work, or personal life
• changing and improving habits, e.g. poor sleep, exercise, or screen-use
• low self-esteem and confidence
• coping with long-term medical conditions e.g. diabetes and asthma
• feeling overwhelmed, unclear on the next steps in life
• worries around gaining employment, applying for college/uni, navigating housing, benefits, or debt
• learning and using emotional regulation techniques

If trying new activities or tackling some worries with the help of a supportive person might make the difference to the young person's situation, consider social prescribing.

Exclusions

• mental health needs requiring counselling or therapy (e.g. chronic low mood, depression, anxiety, phobias, eating disorders, childhood trauma/PTSD) - refer to SEMH
• families looking for specific targeted support for special education needs and disabilities (e.g. ADHD, autism, learning disabilities) though the team can support young people with additional needs into universal youth services
• substance misuse involving very harmful and hazardous usage or features of dependence
• risk of harm to self (e.g. suicidal ideation/intent, self-harm) or others
• acute mental health presentation/acute crises requiring urgent psychiatric assessment/intervention (e.g. acute anxiety state, acute depressive state, psychosis states including mania)
• acute severe behavioural difficulties/crises impacting on family/school
• safeguarding concerns/suspicion of abuse
• referrer's judgement of moderate and high risk

How to Refer