Emma Boodle is one of our social prescribers working for The Be Well team ( The big life group) looking to join the dots that will result in transformative outcomes for those facing barriers that prevent them from thriving and progressing into good health and wellbeing.

M is one of Emma’s uniquely individual clients whose visit to her local GP doctor resulted in a social prescription rather than a course of tablets.

Fleeing an abusive relationship, this mum with two children under the age of 4 years is being housed with her children in a safe house. M is from Iran, and in her own country she received a good education. She married at age 23 and had had her first child; a daughter, when tragically her husband was killed in a car crash. For ten years M lived with her parents and young daughter before remarrying. Her new husband brought her to the UK soon after their marriage and when she was pregnant with their first child. Her new husband refused to bring M’s daughter to the UK and overtime he became increasingly mentally controlling and physically violent towards M.

Not allowed to learn English or to integrate into the local community, M became isolated and vulnerable. When M was pregnant with her second child the police became involved and she and her child were moved out of the house for their safety. Sometime after the birth of her second child, M was referred to a local GP with anxiety and stress and this is when the referral was made to Emma.

Emma describes M as a bright young women with a good level of education, good digital skills, and aspirations of a better life for herself and her children. However, several barriers had to be overcome and vital connections with the right agencies had to be made. A school place was identified for M’s 4 year old child, food and clothing, and English lessons were just some of the early interventions. What became evident early on was that not being able to access the internet was a recurring barrier, M desperately needed a laptop and a Smart phone.

Emma made the referral to the Manchester Digital Inclusion Team and working with Community Computers, suitable devices were identified. Adrian Nottingham, Community Computers Business Development Manager was able to meet Emma in the City Centre and handover over the devices to her.

Adrian says, “Our Social Prescribers’ do such vital work. They have big caseloads, and the people they support often face multiple challenges. I am so pleased that working with the Manchester Digital Inclusion Team, we have been able to provide Emma with one key piece of the puzzle that will enable her client to overcome several of the barriers she faces, simply by being digitally connected.”

Emma states, “Our goal is to enable our clients to support themselves. M will now be able to access ESOL classes, other online courses, and all the agencies that she will need to engage with as she makes a new life for herself and her children.”

Emma reported that when she handed the laptop and smart phone to M, “to say the least she was over the moon.  She said this has been one of the best things to happen to her in recent times.”

At the same time as receiving the laptop and smart phone, Emma liaised with Chris Northern from the Manchester Digital Inclusion Team to secure a SIM card and data for M, which completes her journey to being digitally connected.