When did you last go to a museum? How did it make you feel?

GPs in a Swiss town are prescribing museum visits as part of a social prescribing plan to help find pathways to healing for those struggling with mental health. The idea came about from the World Health Organisation 2019 study into how the arts can help with mental wellbeing.

One recipient said “I think it brings a little light into the darkness”.  

We’re lucky in London to have a multitude of museums big and small, largely free to visit. Travelling to them is for many simple, hop on the bus or the tube, but if there is a problem with navigating public transport, community transport can step in.

Westway CT travel weekly to museums and other wonderful places, for free, helping our members to get more from the wonderful city they live in, and take advantage of it’s incredible offerings from parks, historic houses and of course the pub! We started this journey in 2020 when lock down lifted, and we were concerned that for many of our members getting back out into the community would be both challenging and a bit frightening.

Yes it’s a nice thing to do but there is a serious reason for why we do it. It makes people happier, and happier people feel better, both physically and mentally, and that means less isolation and less deteriorating loneliness, and mental health issues. 

Community transport is more than getting from A to B, it’s a life line to be treasured and supported by everyone, those who use it and those who don’t …yet.

If you need help with transport due to age or mobility issues please take a look at what we offer here.