Programmes
Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA)
Advancing social prescribing as a cornerstone of preventive, people-centred healthcare.
What social prescribing is
Care beyond the clinic
Social prescribing connects people to non-clinical community activities and services — arts, nature, volunteering, peer support — to improve health and wellbeing. It addresses the wider determinants of health that clinical care alone cannot reach.
In 2021, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care launched the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA). The Alliance was established to champion a global shift toward prevention-focused, person-centered healthcare.
The Alliance was co-founded by the World Health Innovation Summit (WHIS) and the National Academy of Social Prescribing with international partners WHO and UNGSII, with support from countries all over the world in 2020.
Rooted in the belief that wellbeing is shaped by far more than clinical interventions, the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) brings together health leaders, policymakers, academics, and community organizations to scale social prescribing internationally.
See upcoming Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) events →-
30+ countries
Policymakers, clinicians, and communities in the network
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9 July 2027
Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) Summit — next flagship convening
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WHIS Academy
Online courses & free demo for the social prescribing workforce
What the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) does
Accelerate adoption worldwide
Standards, evidence, convenings, training, partnerships, and chapters — each with a clear next step.
- Global Playbook →
Standards & policy
International frameworks for social prescribing implementation.
- Browse resources →
Research & toolkits
Playbooks and reports used by governments and health systems.
- Summit 2027 →
Summits & working groups
Global convenings to share practice and shape policy.
- WHIS Academy →
Workforce & Academy
Train practitioners and link workers through WHIS Academy — plus clinician memberships.
- Hiya network →
Women's wellness
Hiya — social-prescribing-led women's health launching across the UAE and GCC.
- WHISTech →
Cross-sector partnerships
Health, government, business, and civil society — plus digital delivery via WHISTech.
- Find chapters →
Community chapters
Ireland, UK, India, USA, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, and beyond.
Who it’s for
Choose your path
One alliance, different next steps — Academy, membership, playbooks, chapters, or the student movement.
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Clinicians & link workers
Learn via WHIS Academy, then unlock membership CPD benefits for day-to-day practice.
Try Academy free demo → -
Policymakers & health systems
Standards, playbooks, and the Summit — frameworks for national and regional programmes.
Playbooks & Summit → -
Community & chapter leads
Grow local networks and connect to the global alliance through WHIS chapters.
Chapters & get involved → -
Students & researchers
Student Movement Playbook and campus organising — join the next generation of the field.
Student playbook & sign-up →
Practitioner network
Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Monthly online meetings, 1–2pm BST — practitioners, researchers, and leaders advancing social prescribing between global summits.
Next: 11 September 2026 — AI, Digital Health & Creative Arts
- 11 September 2026 — AI, Digital Health & Creative Arts
- 9 October 2026 — Workforce development & Loneliness
- 13 November 2026 — Mental Health & Research
- 11 December 2026 — 2026 review and 2027 plans
Campaigns & community
Awards, awareness days & global action
Celebrate impact, register local events, and stay connected between summits.
- 2025 winners →Nominate now →
Global Social Prescribing Impact Awards
Nominate changemakers driving health equity and community-led social prescribing — winners announced at the 2027 Summit.
- 2026 highlights →Register your activity →
Social Prescribing Day 2027
Saturday 27 March 2027 — register your local event, Parkrun, webinar, or community celebration.
Key resources
Playbooks & reports
Practical guides for governments, health systems, campuses, and practitioners.
- Global Playbook for Social Prescribing 2026 edition — the practical guide to person-centred, community-based care worldwide.
- AI in Digital Health & Social Prescribing Opportunities, safeguards, and policy direction for prevention-first systems.
- Global Social Prescribing Workforce Development Skills, growth, and opportunities shaping the social prescribing workforce.
- Student Movement Playbook Organise, advocate, and grow community-based care on campus and beyond. Sign up →
Capacity building
WHIS Academy
Online courses for healthcare professionals, link workers, policymakers, and innovators — practical skills that sit alongside Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) standards and membership CPD.
Start with a free demo of course content, then go deeper with expert-led programmes on health innovation, policy, and community engagement.
Flagship convening
Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA) Summit 2027
9 July 2027 — the alliance’s next global gathering for policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and community leaders.
Share practice, shape standards, and connect the network that spans more than 30 countries.
Ready to join the Global Social Prescribing Alliance (GSPA)?
Learn on WHIS Academy, join as a member, connect on Signal, or talk to the team about chapters and partnerships.