UCL-led ’Museums on Prescription’ wins health awards

A UCL and Canterbury Christ Church University-led project 'Museums on Prescription' has won two prestigious Royal Society of Public Health Awards for 'Health & Wellbeing' and 'Arts and Health', with a special commendation for 'Sustainable Development'. Museums on Prescription connects lonely older people at risk of social isolation to partner museums in Central London and Kent. Its innovative approach of social prescribing links people to sources of community support to improve their health and wellbeing. Professor Helen Chatterjee (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment) led the project and coordinated the many partners to research the processes, practices, value and impact of social prescription schemes in the arts and cultural sector with specific reference to museums including galleries. "This is a huge achievement that would not have been possible without the support and hard work of everyone who contributed to the project. We want to say a massive thank you to the museums that ran such an exciting and stimulating range of programmes, the referrers from London and Kent and, of course, everyone who participated. We are extremely grateful to the AHRC for funding Museums on Prescription," said Professor Chatterjee on receiving the award.