National Academy for Social Prescribing (UK)

There will only be 1 intern selected for this position.

Program Type

International

Organization Name

National Academy for Social Prescribing (UK)

Internship Location

London, England, United Kingdom

Organization

The National Academy for Social Prescribing was launched in October 2019 by the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The Academy builds partnerships across the arts, health, sports, leisure, the natural environment, and the voluntary and community sector to promote health and wellbeing at both national and local levels. It champions social prescribing and the role of communities in connecting people for wellbeing.

The Academy’s objectives include raising the global profile of social prescribing and personalised care; developing innovative funding partnerships; building national and international collaborations; shaping and sharing the evidence base for social prescribing; and promoting learning and innovation across sectors to support equitable, preventative health systems.

Position Overview

This internship offers a structured opportunity to support the development of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Social Prescribing, hosted by the National Academy for Social Prescribing. The role is embedded within a national and international programme of work advancing social prescribing as a core component of personalised, preventative, and equitable health systems.

Interns will contribute to workstreams aligned with the strategic aims of the WHO Collaborating Centre, gaining meaningful exposure to health policy development, global collaboration, and systems-level thinking. The internship is designed to support work with the potential to influence national and international health practice and policy.

Project Details

The WHO Collaborating Centre for Social Prescribing aims to:

• Develop an international alliance to raise awareness of social prescribing

• Create a universal language for social prescribing

• Unify global partners and enhance worldwide collaboration through a digital mapping initiative

• Develop mechanisms for sharing good practice

• Build an environment that supports innovation and implementation in social prescribing

The work supports social prescribing as an approach that complements the medical model by addressing social determinants of health through non-clinical, community-based interventions co-designed with patients.

Intern Responsibilities

• Support the development of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Social Prescribing

• Contribute to scoping, development, and piloting of key initiatives

• Assist with development of project proposals and workplans

• Conduct simple data gathering and analysis

• Attend team meetings, presentations, and collaborative working sessions

• Support development of a universal language for social prescribing in collaboration with international partners, including the UN and WHO

• Help build and maintain national and international collaborations

• Support dissemination of innovation, evidence, and learning materials across platforms

• Contribute to publications and presentations for global policy forums, with mentorship and support

Qualifications

Essential:

• Interest in global and public health and health advocacy

• Understanding of social determinants of health and the bio-psycho-social model of care

• Strong enthusiasm, commitment, and motivation

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team

• Ability to manage deadlines and responsibilities

• Flexible and adaptable in new learning environments

Desirable:

• Previous experience or involvement in public or global health (including voluntary work or placements)

• Interest in innovation and systems transformation

• Experience with project development or data handling

• Interest in pursuing a career in public or global health

• Understanding of co-design, shared decision-making, and partnership-based approaches to care

Learning Outcomes

• First-hand experience working at the intersection of health policy, personalised care, and global health systems

• Skills in research, project development, stakeholder engagement, and policy-informed advocacy

• Exposure to national and international health organizations, including the WHO

• Understanding of how social prescribing evidence is generated, translated, and applied at system level

• Experience working in multidisciplinary and cross-sector partnerships addressing health inequities

• Strengthened communication, analytical, and collaborative working skills

Nature of Internship

International / Health Policy and Systems Strengthening

Work Environment

Hybrid. The Academy operates with a combination of in-person and virtual working. Staff are typically present in the office at least half of the week, providing regular opportunities for in-person collaboration alongside remote work.

Additional Onboarding for Selected Intern(s)

Yes. Interns will receive orientation and onboarding to organizational processes, project workstreams, and collaboration platforms.

Keywords

Advocacy; Community Engagement; Health Equity; Health Systems Strengthening; Health Policy; Mental Health; Nutrition; Technology and Innovation