Yes, it’s a good example of the range of services that exist right across the country—local opportunities and how people are linked to those opportunities to improve their general health and well-being, and not a reliance on medication and medical intervention. It’s also a good example of the way we de-medicalise the service and, in particular, the way that healthcare support workers and other community-based workers have been really important in getting people to actually get active and get involved in their community, to take more ownership of their own choices in a way that is enjoyable for them and appropriate and local.

Trying to make this work more systematically is something that Dr Richard Lewis has undertaken in his role as the national professional lead for primary care in the Welsh Government. People in the Chamber will know him from his former role with the BMA, and he’s continuing to champion the role of well-being services and the need for more systematic access and referral. The future generations commissioner has also facilitated a round-table discussion with stakeholders on behalf of Dr Lewis last autumn and that’s generated a lot of enthusiasm and discussion.

The challenge now, over this next year, is how we roll out what we hope will be a more consistent and effective approach. But, within this Welsh Government, we’re committed to supporting stakeholders to share learning and good practice. So, in March, the Welsh Government sponsored a Mid Wales Health Collaborative conference. That event brought outdoor sector colleagues together with healthcare professionals to discuss the positive health and well-being benefits of outdoor activity, and increase awareness of the benefits of using green spaces. So, it is important to continue to develop the evidence base of what exists, and also what works. And the Welsh Government has, therefore, commissioned a review of the principles of sustainable community-based volunteering to tackle loneliness and social isolation among older people. And that will focus on models of best practice and the impact that they have had. The research findings will be published in September and used by health boards, local authorities, the third and community sectors to inform the development of further community-led volunteer models.

To help people find the right care at the right time and in the right place—often with the right person and the right service—the Welsh Government is continuing to work to co-ordinate the development of a single virtual directory of services for health and social care in the third and independent sectors. The directory will be used by both the public and professionals. It will underpin the new local authority information, advice and assistance services, and the 111 telephone and website service, and it will include the wide range of services available in local communities and explain how people can access that care and support.

In ‘Taking Wales Forward’, the Welsh Government committed to launching a Wales well-being bond to drive forward healthier lifestyles. The social prescribing agenda aligns closely to the aims of the well-being bond, which will look to take forward innovative health and well-being projects. We’re currently working closely with our stakeholders on the best way to achieve this. And, so, I say this generally, because I would welcome the views of Assembly Members on what further action is needed at national level to promote well-being services, and I welcome your views and ideas on what you think the priorities should be. And a number of Members will have their own local experience. For example, I know there may be Members who want to talk about Valleys Steps, which is engaging in Cwm Taf, a year into a relatively successful approach. So, the views of Members and wider stakeholders will lead into the Welsh Government’s commitment to trial a national approach to social prescribing in mental health. That should help us to take this work forward.

In accordance with our ‘Taking Wales Forward’ commitment, I’ll begin a pilot on social prescribing this December—or by this December. It will be aimed specifically at improving the mental health offer and the support for people with low to moderate mental health issues. The evidence base around social prescribing is limited, but growing. By funding a pilot, we think we’ll contribute to the evaluation of the role of social prescribing in Wales, and investigate the factors that make it most effective. The pilot will add to the excellent work already taking place in Wales, and we’re now engaging with stakeholders to work up proposals for the pilot scheme. I’ll make further announcements about the development of the pilot scheme and the well-being bond after the summer, but I look forward to hearing Members’ contributions to today’s debate.