Building a Global Social Prescribing Workforce: Skills, Opportunities, and Impact
The world is changing and so is healthcare. Increasingly, we recognize that health is more than medicine. Social prescribing, which connects people to non-clinical community services, is transforming how we think about wellbeing, prevention, and community care.
From nature walks and art therapy to peer support groups and skills workshops, social prescribing empowers people to improve their health through meaningful engagement. At the heart of this movement are link workers — the professionals who guide people to the support they need. Yet despite their critical role, many face barriers to training and career growth.
The Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) is addressing this gap with our Training & Development Roadmap. Developed in collaboration with World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS) and academic partners, the roadmap offers structured pathways for link workers: from foundational knowledge, through practical skills, advanced practice, and leadership. It is designed to be flexible, globally relevant, and rooted in both evidence and lived experience.
Social prescribing is also part of a broader global opportunity. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that investing in care services, including community-based health roles, could create up to 300 million jobs worldwide by 2035. This represents a chance to simultaneously strengthen health systems, enhance wellbeing, and generate meaningful employment at scale. (ILO reference)
At GSPA, our vision is clear: a skilled, confident, and globally connected social prescribing workforce capable of transforming communities, promoting health equity, and embedding prevention-focused care in health systems worldwide.
We invite link workers, employers, policymakers, academics, and community partners to join us. Together, we can create healthier, more resilient communities, redefine the meaning of healthcare, and open up a world of opportunity for people and societies alike.
Global Adoption – Countries Advancing Social Prescribing Through GSPA Collaboration: United Kingdom, Ireland, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina.
Join the conversation: www.whis.world/gspa 📧 gareth@whis.world | james@whis.world