Social PrescribED Tastival

The FREE Social PrescribED Tastival is all about raising awareness, and understanding, of the varied social prescribing programmes listed on the University of Edinburgh’s SocialPrescribED webpage. The Tastival will run across two weeks in March, centred around Social Prescribing Day 2024, on Thursday 14 March.

Social PrescribED developed out of the University’s Prescribe Culture initiative, reflecting the diversity of social prescriptions including green prescribing, movement prescriptions and online social prescribing being made available for referrals from health and wellbeing professionals on campus, as well as across the city.

The Tastival is open to anyone working across Edinburgh and the Lothians, with adults who may have relevant need and benefit from referrals into some of the social prescribing programmes listed below. This includes Community Link Workers, Wellbeing Advisors, Student Support Officers, Social Workers, GPs, Occupational Health Therapists, Counselling Services, Community Mental Health Services and any relevant charities e.g. SAMH

UoE Prescribe Culture’s Tastival offer brings together a flavour of the Prescribe Culture service which is open to referrals and available to individuals, 18+, across Edinburgh’s student and non-student communities, for those seeking non-clinical support for mental health and/or for those who may benefit from the opportunity to connect in a small group, structured, socialising context. Delivered by the University Library and University Collections, Prescribe Culture offers Programme 6 and Prescribe Culture Gatherings, co-designed social prescribing programmes.

The following options are available, please book individual tickets for the ones you would like to attend. Please also note the different venues for each session:

Step Back & Reflect (Programme 6)

Venue: Online via Zoom

Date/Time: Monday 11 March, 4-5pm

Inspired by the diverse and rich stories found in the heritage buildings and collections of the University of Edinburgh, our Civic Engagement Manager and Prescribe Culture Lead, Ruthanne Baxter, will gently ease you out of your day, today, and take you on a little time travel. Through a brief introduction to fascinating people, places and events from our past, we will explore and discover a little about others and ourselves, aim to awaken self-compassion and empathy, and benefit from a short reflective exercise.

A Creative Writing Session with the Lothian Health Services Archive (Programme 6)

Venue: Room 1.07, University of Edinburgh Main Library, 30 George Square

Date/Time: Tuesday 12 March, 2pm-3.30pm

Lothian Health Services Archive holds the historically important local records of NHS hospitals and other health-related material. Join us for a session where we’ll use the archives as inspiration for a range of creative writing exercises. All welcome, no experience of creative writing necessary.

Prescribe Culture @ The Makerspace

Venue: Makerspace. University of Edinburgh Main Library

Date/Time: Tuesday 12 March, 11-11.45am

Digital creativity is a novel means to support wellbeing. Meet Simeon and his team at the Makerspace, to explore the range of state-of-the-art equipment available for providing windows of respite from work, study, stresses and strains. The Makerspace offers a Programme 6 and is very suitable for self-directed drop-in activities.

Step Back & Reflect (Programme 6)

Venue: St Cecilia’s Hall and Music Museum

Date/Time: Wednesday 13 March, 9-10.30am

Inspired by the diverse and rich stories found in the heritage buildings and collections of the University of Edinburgh, our Civic Engagement Manager and Prescribe Culture Lead, Ruthanne Baxter, will gently ease you out of your day, today, and take you on a little time travel. Through brief introductions to a range of fascinating people, places and events from our past, we will explore and discover a little about others and ourselves, aim to awaken self-compassion and empathy, and benefit from a short reflective exercise.

Prescribe Culture Gathering – In the footsteps of William Dick: A Walking Tour

Gathering Venue: St Cecilia’s Hall and Music Museum – tour ends Summerhall

Date/Time: Wednesday 20 March, 3-5pm

Join the University’s Dr Andrew Gardiner, Senior Lecturer and Vet Historian, for a walking tour around Edinburgh’s Old Town, visiting sites relating to the life, times and work of William Dick, founder of the Royal Dick Vet School, one o the world’s oldest Veterinary Medicine Schools. Members will gather at St Cecilia’s Hall in the Cowgate and the tour will conclude at the old Vet School, Summerhall.

Green & Blue Social Prescribing Social PrescribED Tasters

Soup & A Blether

Venue: Botanic Gardens

Date/time: Friday 8 March, 12-1pm.

Come join the Engagement Team from the Botanics and, over a bowl of soup, get to know more about their wonderful range of health and wellbeing activities, suitable for social prescribing referrals.

Cruise on the Union Canal

Venue: Fountainbridge Union Canal Trust

Date/Time: Tuesday 19th March 3.30-5pm

You are invited for a cruise on the Union Canal on board one of our canal boats. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of being on the water, surrounded by nature. There is an opportunity to take part in a taster of creative and nature connection activities on board as experienced by our social prescribing and health and wellbeing groups.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Main Library, 30 George Square, Edinburgh, United Kingdom