Today marks the official launch of the National Social Prescribing Group Norway (NSPG Norway), a new national consortium established under the auspices of the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA), governed by WHIS CIC UK.
The NSPG Norway will bring together partners from across health, social care, academia, community organisations, and the private sector to promote and scale social prescribing as a key approach to improving population health and wellbeing. The group will also act as a consortium to design, secure, and deliver future projects, including innovative financing such as outcomes-based contracting.
The Chair of NSPG Norway will be GSPA/WHIS CEO Gareth Presch for an initial 12-month period while the group consults with stakeholders. NSPG Norway will be affiliated with the Hordaland Red Cross district of the Norwegian Red Cross and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, reflecting a strong foundation in both community engagement and academic collaboration.
“The launch of NSPG Norway is a significant step forward in building healthier, more resilient communities. By bringing together partners from across sectors, and with the Norwegian Red Cross and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences as key affiliates, we are creating a powerful platform for innovation and collaboration. Social prescribing has the potential to transform health systems, reduce inequalities, and improve lives. Through the Global Social Prescribing Alliance, NSPG Norway will also gain access to international networks, knowledge exchange, and innovative funding models to support this important work,” — Gareth Presch, CEO of the Global Social Prescribing Alliance and Founder of the World Health Innovation Summit.
Roger Ekeberg Henriksen, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, added:
“NSPG Norway is the direct outcome of a three-year, strategic collaboration with Sam Pywell and the Social Prescribing Unit at the University of Lancashire. In addition to receiving invaluable support in project planning and funding applications, Sam and her experienced research colleagues have played a key role in connecting the emerging social prescribing community in Norway to prominent international platforms, including the International Social Prescribing Collaborative and, more recently, the Global Social Prescribing Alliance. The insight and support we’ve received from the international social prescribing community over the past few years have given us the confidence to believe that implementing social prescribing in Norway is not only possible, but increasingly relevant. Awareness of social prescribing is steadily growing in Norway, and this feels like the right moment to formally launch NSPG Norway. We’re no longer questioning whether implementation is possible, but rather how it can be done in the most effective and inclusive way. Answering that question will require the creation of forums that can bring forward a broader range of perspectives on social connectedness than those we currently hold ourselves.”
NSPG Norway will operate independently to set its national priorities while benefiting from access to global frameworks, networks, and resources provided by the GSPA. Members commit to a minimum three-year collaboration period, ensuring stability and long-term impact.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing) and reflects Norway’s commitment to prevention, wellbeing, and community-based health solutions.
Call to Action
Countries and organisations interested in exploring the establishment of a National Social Prescribing Group or partnering with the Global Social Prescribing Alliance are encouraged to contact Gareth Presch at gareth@whis.world.
**Background: ** Social Prescribing is a means of connecting people to community-based, non-clinical support to improve health and wellbeing. Examples include volunteering, arts and cultural activities, exercise groups, or financial and housing advice.
The Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) is a global movement advancing social prescribing, housed within WHIS CIC UK.