To celebrate Social Prescribing Day, North Cork Social Prescribing shared the 5 Ways to Wellbeing with everyone across social media and created a competition around the post for their followers for a Wellbeing Hamper. To be in with a chance of winning the lovely Wellbeing Hamper, followers had to like North Cork Social Prescribing and share the post on social prescribing day.
Their post raised awarness of social prescribing, encouraged people to connect with North Cork Social Prescribing on social media, shared valuable tips to improve health and welbeing, promoted local partner services and even help spread the word about our website and how to find the contact detiails for social prescribing services across Ireland.
Their post included the following information:
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing offer simple and practical strategies that people can use to improve their wellbeing. Here are some ideas:
1. Connect. Reach out to a friend or relative by text or phone. Chat to a neighbour. Write a letter. Send a card or postcard. Invite someone around for a cup of tea. Attend a religious/faith service. Strike up a conversation with a stranger. Offer to help a neighbour with an errand. Consider joining Mallow Cultural Companions.
2. Be active. Take a walk. Stretch. Stand on one foot as long as you can. Sing your favourite song. Take the stairs not the lift. Dance to your favourite song. Go for a swim. Try an online exercise video. Sign up for a charity walk. Consider trying one of Mallow Health Project's exercise or walking groups.
3. Take notice. Take deep breaths. Feel sun (hopefully) on your face. Plant some seeds or tend a plant. Start to jot down three things you are grateful for every day. Take the time to really taste your food. Notice the seasonal changes in nature. Take a break from screens. Consider trying out the Bad Art Club at the West End Art Studios.
4. Keep learning. Try to learn a new word every day. Do a crossword or Sudoku. Read a book on a topic you know nothing about. Try out a new recipe. Learn the words to a song that you only know the chorus of. Join your local Cork County Council Library & Arts Service or consider doing a class at your local ETB. Cork College of FET- Mallow Campus or Cork College of FET Charleville Centre or Cork College of FET Kanturk/Newmarket Centre or Cork College of FET Millstreet Centre.
5. Give back. Compliment someone. Do someone a small favour. Smile at others. Volunteer your time. Donate clothes to charity shops. Feed the birds. Pick up litter in your neighbourhood. Cook a meal for someone. Donate blood if you can. Consider volunteering as a befriender with Ballyhoura Rural Services or ALONE Ireland or Mallow Tidy Towns / Charleville Tidy Towns / Buttevant Tidy Towns / Kanturk Tidy Towns Commitee / Millstreet Tidy Towns.
Social Prescribing is a free service based in the Le Chéile Family Resource Centre. It involves talking with Social Prescriber Eithne Foley about activities, hobbies or community resources that would improve your wellbeing.
North Cork Social Prescribing covers Mallow, Buttevant, Charleville, Newmarket, Kanturk and Millstreet. Other social prescribing services around the country are listed here: https://www.allirelandsocialprescribing.ie/services-map
Remember, small things make a big difference to how you feel.
Pictured below is the lucky winner of the Wellness Hamper
Photo Caption: Mallow local Patrick O’Mahony, winner of the Social Prescribing Day Competition, with North Cork Social Prescriber Eithne Foley. Eithne is based in the Le Chéile Family Resource Centre and provides a free service, helping to link people into their communities.