Linking Lives UK

Who we are

Linking Lives UK works with churches and Christian organisations across the UK to reach and support isolated older people. This is currently achieved in three primary ways: 

• Establishment of local befriending projects in which volunteers regularly visit older people in their own homes, usually once a week for around one hour. Visits have a significant impact in addressing loneliness and social isolation; there is evidence that such activity can improve physical and mental health as well as self-confidence.

• Volunteer Training  - Our 'Good Conversations' two-hour online training course provides volunteers operating in community activities such as drop-in centres, community cafes or lunch clubs with necessary skills to carry out their roles effectively. This includes guidance about boundaries, safeguarding and listening skills.

• Inspiring individuals - Through our 'Power of One' regular webinar, we provide individuals with inspiring ideas and examples of ways in which we can all reach out to and support those who may be experience loneliness.

We believe that the church has a distinctive and crucial role to play in addressing these issues and this includes responding to physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. Our aim is to inspire, equip and resource churches and Christian organisations to develop effective responses in local communities which impact the lives of older people using the Linking Lives UK model.

Our approach is based on the work of a successful Berkshire charity which, in 2012, began to explore ways in which the model coulld be used elsewhere in the UK. In 2016, a separate new charity  was registered to focus specifically on the national work. The name of ‘Linking Lives’ was chosen as we are working to draw people together to share quality time in a way that benefits everyone involved. In the same year, we were also privileged to receive a Silver Award for ‘Best Replicable Project’ at the Christian Funders Forum Awards.

Our culture and values

Our strapline 'Improving quality of life through friendship' highlights our focus on one to one relationships providing the primary opportunity to address loneliness and social isolation particularly among older people. In all areas of our work, we seek to encourage effective listening skills and this is under lined through our five key values:

• We want to serve those who are most alone and to bring hope
• We particularly value one to one relationships
• At the heart of everything we do is the love of Jesus
• We want to build mutually beneficial relationships of trust
• We deeply value understanding everyone’s story acknowledging that we are all equal