Building Connection and Confidence Through Social Prescribing

As we celebrate BC Non-Profit Recognition Day this week, we are shining a light on the impact that non-profits, like United Way BC, have in supporting community. In this Impact Story, you’ll learn more about Mel, just one of many frontline champions who work for charities and non-profits in communities across our province—someone who’s making a real difference with their time, talent, imagination, and skills.  

Bridging Health & Community

Imagine living in isolation for years—cut off from community, grieving a loved one, and struggling with depression. For one senior on Gabriola Island, this was her reality. But thanks to a Social Prescribing program and the compassionate support of a Community Connector named Mel, her story took a positive turn.

The United Way BC Social Prescribing program is changing how we care for seniors by connecting health care with community. Instead of focusing solely on medical needs, it recognizes how social factors like loneliness, grief, and isolation affect a person’s well-being.  

At the heart of this model are Community Connectors—individuals who walk alongside seniors, helping them navigate resources, build relationships, and rediscover purpose. More than 80 Community Connectors now work across BC, from urban centres to remote islands like Gabriola, offering timely, tailored support that’s changing lives. United Way BC funds Community Connector roles at community partner agencies, ensuring that seniors across BC have access to yet another support to help them stay independent and engaged.  

Meet Mel: Making a Difference

On Gabriola Island, Mel is a familiar and trusted presence. As a Community Connector, she plays a key role in helping older adults move from isolation to connection—especially in a rural setting where services and social opportunities can be limited.

“I seek out seniors on Gabriola who are at risk of low to moderate frailty and isolation,” says Mel, “and then I help connect them with local programs that better their health and wellness.”

Through her role at People for a Healthy Community (PHC), a community partner of United Way BC that provide services and support to residents of Gabriola, Mudge, and DeCourcy Islands, Mel does more than refer seniors to programs—she builds lasting relationships by being present in the spaces where they gather.

“One thing I think is really important is being visible and approachable,” she says. “I really love attending programs in person and meeting new people that way—face to face—and getting to know seniors in my community.”

Mel’s work is rooted in trust. By showing up, listening, and learning what matters most to each person, she helps foster a sense of belonging that can be life-changing.

A Life Reconnected: One Senior’s Journey

Among the many lives Mel has touched, one story stands out.

She first met the senior at a Choose to Move program she was facilitating. After the initial group meeting, they sat down to talk about goals and motivations. What followed was a deeply moving conversation.

“She shared with me that she had been living in isolation for approximately seven years, and that joining this program was the first time she had any meaningful social connection since the passing of her partner. Her struggle with depression and negative personal relationships had caused her to lose hope and confidence in herself.”

Together, they set short-term goals and Mel encouraged her to keep attending. Week by week, the senior began to open up, forming connections and rediscovering her sense of humor.

“Over the course of 8 weeks, she began to make some meaningful connections with other group members and was actually one of the most humorous and lively participants of the bunch. I could see that she started to feel more comfortable being herself as time went on.”

When the program ended, Mel helped her explore other opportunities—the Adult Day Program, local discussion groups, and a fitness class for older adults.

“I got to witness on the sidelines, as I saw her making more social connections, taking care of her health and wellbeing, and seemingly becoming more herself.”

“Social prescribing recognizes that healthy aging is so much more than just your physical well-being,” Mel says. “Using a person-centred approach…. encouraging seniors to have the self-efficacy and the courage to take up challenges, to make new goals for yourself at any stage in your life.”

A Province-Wide Impact

This isn’t just a local success—it’s part of a growing movement. Across BC, United Way BC Healthy Aging’s Social Prescribing program is changing how seniors experience aging.

Health professionals refer older adults to local programs and activities that support physical, emotional, and social well-being—connecting them to care beyond the clinic. What makes this model so effective is its collaborative spirit. It brings together health care providers, non-profits, and grassroots groups to support seniors in meaningful, holistic ways.

Community Connectors are the glue—identifying gaps, co-creating solutions, and helping older adults feel empowered.

“We have many touch points throughout the community,” Mel explains. “A big part of the role is making those connections with other seniors-serving agencies—just reaching out to the local community bus, the Senior Centre, the Fellowship Church, and other organizations on the island that serve, and seeing how we can work together.”

These grassroots partnerships are happening across the province, creating a stronger, more responsive network of care—one that meets seniors where they are and helps them move forward.

“Helping seniors gain confidence and self-efficacy are imperative to Social Prescribing programs,” Mel says. “I’ve witnessed the magic that can happen when people become connected to the supports in their community.”

Conclusion: A Model for the Future

The United Way BC Healthy Aging Social Prescribing program shows what’s possible when health care and community come together. Across the province, seniors are reconnecting, building confidence, and embracing life with renewed purpose.

Mel reflects on her work with deep gratitude:

“I’ve been really inspired by the resilience I see from seniors in our community. It’s just amazing—the tenacity. It’s very rewarding to witness positive outcomes that people have and watching them achieve their goals.”

Thanks to support from our partners and the Province of BC, over 51,300 non-medical services were delivered last year through Social Prescribing—fostering connection, improving well-being, and renewing purpose for older adults.

With your help, we can continue growing this vital work. Join us in building a future where every senior feels seen, supported, and valued. 

Let’s Be United for Seniors. Donate Today.