Social prescribing as a nation-wide method - a Mission Lab by Novo Nordisk Foundation and not a box

On September 5th, we hosted our first Mission Lab on social prescribing in collaboration with the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Together with more than 70 engaged participants from across sectors and disciplines in Danish public health, we explored how to develop a national model for social prescribing in Denmark.

Mission Lab #1 featured inspiring presentations and discussions, including insights from England, where Guy Boersma shared experiences from Bromley By Bow in London, as well as contributions from pilot projects in Copenhagen, Roskilde, and research perspectives from Rasmus Østergaard, representing the CONNECT research network at the Research Unit for General Practice in Aarhus.

Some of the key takeaways from the day:

• A national model requires national research

• Broad target groups and stakeholders must be involved from the start

• We need knowledge, action, and conceptualisation – and tolerance for model variation

• When? Now!

As a method, social prescribing is a key answer to some of the most pressing questions of the future of public health, and we’re excited to continue this important work with the Novo Nordisk Foundation – and hopefully soon with stakeholders across the country.

A big thank you to everyone who participated and contributed – with special thanks to the Social Investment Fund and Østifterne for supporting the vision of a national model for social prescribing – and, of course, to the Novo Nordisk Foundation, who together with not a box are driving the work on mobilisation and conceptual development behind the mission labs.

We’re already looking forward to continuing the conversation and the work at Mission Lab #2 on October 31st, 2025.