SPACE Project supports cancer survivors through social prescribing
WONCA Project Supporting Cancer Patients Through Social Prescribing
On January 31, 2025, representatives from WONCA traveled to Barcelona to take part in the first face-to-face research meeting of the SPACE Project. The Social Prescribing and Civic Engagement (SPACE) Project, led by the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) and funded by Erasmus+ (European Union), is an initiative bringing together eight partner organisations from across Europe. The goal: to create a shared approach that combines social prescribing and volunteering, with a special focus on helping patients recovering from cancer.
Professor Joyce Kenkre (UK) and Dr. Ferdinando Petrazzuoli (Italy) represented WONCA at the meeting, where participants discussed the project’s core objectives and immediate tasks. The gathering was productive and allowed everyone to clarify roles and responsibilities. There was lively debate on how different countries utilise link workers in primary care settings, underscoring the importance of creating a flexible model that can respond to diverse healthcare landscapes.
Dr. Ferdinando Petrazzuoli and Professor Joyce Kenkre at the SPACE Project meeting in Barcelona.
The SPACE Project aims to raise the capacity and confidence of health, social care, and rehabilitation professionals by promoting volunteering as part of social prescribing programs. It also seeks to highlight the potential of community or urban gardens in supporting cancer survivors through these initiatives. By connecting cancer survivors to natural, social environments, the project hopes to enhance their overall well-being and recovery.
A project handbook is currently in development, providing detailed guidance on implementation, best practices, and training methodologies.
Why Social Prescribing?
Social prescribing is increasingly recognised as an effective method to enhance physical and mental health, reduce social isolation, and promote civic engagement. Volunteering, particularly in green spaces such as urban and community gardens, has shown significant benefits in helping individuals regain strength, improve mental well-being, and reconnect with their communities.
WONCA’s Role and Contribution
As a partner in the SPACE Project, WONCA will provide its expertise in primary care and cancer management through its Special Interest Group on Cancer and Palliative Care and in collaboration with WONCA Europe, through its Special Interest Group on Social Prescribing and Community Orientation. This combined effort will ensure that social prescribing is effectively integrated into primary care settings, particularly for patients recovering from cancer.
In the coming months, WONCA will lead the design and distribution of a survey that will be shared with primary care workers, including family doctors and nurses. At this stage, the project partners are focusing on a thorough literature review to understand existing practices and research on social prescribing, volunteering, and cancer care. This desk study will inform the survey questions, ensuring they are both relevant and evidence-based.
For WONCA, the SPACE Project aligns strongly with its commitment to improve global family medicine and primary care. By working at the intersection of social prescribing and volunteer engagement, WONCA helps draw attention to new ways of supporting communities and addressing cancer care. The findings of the survey will not only guide future work on the SPACE Project but also contribute valuable insights to the broader primary care community.
The project is led by the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) (Belgium) and is implemented together with seven other organisations:
Looking Ahead
The SPACE Project will run over the next few years, with pilot programs in five countries testing the methodology and its effectiveness. WONCA will work closely with its networks and stakeholders to ensure the project’s success in primary care settings.
We look forward to sharing further updates as the project unfolds and welcome all members of our network to follow this journey. By amplifying the benefits of social prescribing and nurturing strong volunteer programs, SPACE has the potential to strengthen cancer care in primary healthcare systems throughout Europe—and beyond.
