{
  "abstract": "Background Gateshead Council (GC) is delivering a pilot through the social prescribing model to support increasing participation in walking, wheeling, and cycling. Four Active Travel (AT) officers deliver a range of one-to-one and group-based activities with clients with complex and multiple needs, connected through Link Workers. The aim of this study is to identify potential outcomes of the pilot through expert elicitation activities.Methods We conducted a focus group with AT officers detailing the data requirements to inform the design of a Social Return of Investment for the pilot. Officers then completed a free-text survey where they detailed their insight and examples where their programme efforts had impacted either on individuals or their communities. We thematically analysed their responses using inductive coding, which was reviewed and agreed upon by the research team.Results Officers identified physical and mental health benefits from participation such as improved physical fitness and mood, improvements in symptoms of clients’ associated conditions and formation of health promoting habits. Other co-occurring benefits contributing to clients’ overall wellbeing included connecting them to healthcare services, joining wellness groups, engaging in GC and charitable services, spending more time in blue and green spaces, increasing social engagement, participating in cultural activities, improved ability to carry out daily/routine activities, and improved preparedness to re-enter work. Clients were also more likely to use local commercial services such as shops, amenities and public transport, as well as visit and participate in cultural institutions and activities.Conclusion The outcome coding framework illustrates the wide-ranging impact that this multifaceted intervention is having on both residents and communities across Gateshead. This framework will be used to inform a Process Tracing exercise to identify causal mechanisms to inform a Social Return of Investment of the programme using the outcome measures identified in this study.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Public Health Team, Gateshead Council, Gateshead, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Emma Allan"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "HDRC, Gateshead Council, Gateshead, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Louis Goffe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Heather Brown"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P14-3 Development of a theory of change to inform a social return on investment evaluation of a social prescribing active travel pilot",
  "uid": "bb810f27-e433-5199-b4ea-121e5b5994a1"
}