Time Credits as a Social Prescription: The Co-production of a Conceptual Framework, Programme, Evaluation and Social Return on Investment

Aim: To develop a framework of social prescribing (SP) in Wales, evaluate an existing SP plus alternative currency model, refine the model and test the acceptability of a further study.

Background: Demand for healthcare is increasing, cost pressures are rising every year. 20% of patients see their GP for issues such as anxiety and depression and low mood which are better 'treated' in the community through SP. This is a way to link patients with other sources of community support such as gardening, arts and well-being groups. Patients accessing SP show improved self esteem, well-being, mood and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Volunteering has also been shown to have a range of benefits for patients: improving social support, improving feelings of well-being and reducing isolation.

Community currencies or time credits (TC) are a way to 'earn' for volunteering. One hour of volunteering equals one TC. These can be 'spent' on a range of leisure activities and other opportunities.

The Innovate to Save programme (I2S) is funded by WG and delivered by Y Lab (Cardiff University and NESTA - a UK Innovation Charity). Y Lab is currently supporting a SPICE 'SP+TC' pilot project where patients with anxiety and depression are referred from a GP to a social prescriber who 'prescribes' a small number of TC for patients to use. Patients then pledge their time to earn in the future through volunteering. They can use the TC to access a wide range of activities that they are interested in. The social prescriber then supports the patient to volunteer to earn TC back in groups they are interested in. The project is run across nine GP practices in Cardiff and Llanelli.