Make a donation

Help us transform lives with friendship

Following three years of extraordinary growth, each year we need to raise over £500,000, in order to help the growing number of older people who are referred for our support. If you can, please give monthly to Link Visiting. Our work is both urgent and long-term, so monthly donations are the most effective way to support us. Otherwise, please give a one-off gift of whatever you can afford. Every donation matters.

Give the gift of friendship this Christmas

For many, Christmas Day is a day for family, for getting together and celebrating with loved ones. Sadly, however, for some people without family or close friends, it is the loneliest day of the year. A time when isolation, loss and grief are even more keenly felt. For the 13th year running, we're planning to bring festive cheer to those who are alone and who would love some extra company. This includes having a friend to talk to, a delicious meal on the day plus a gift of treats.

Your support makes it happen

Our vision is a community where no one is ever too old to make friends and feel they belong. Your support will help us bring friendship and fun to those struggling with the serious impacts of loneliness and isolation.

Why the community needs us

Loneliness and social isolation especially among older people can lead to a spiral of poor health and low mood which in turn leads to further isolation. Through our network of volunteers, we connect those most in need and offer everyone a range of social opportunities to enjoy and look forward to. Quality time and a friendly face can make all the difference.

Our impact on the community

We're so proud to have connected over 1000 older people with a volunteer, adding thousands of hours of friendship, laughter and fun to people who had felt forgotten. We are part of a network of organisations in the borough called The Friendship Alliance where together we can ensure Wokingham Borough is a friendlier, kinder place to live.

Our relationships

We pride ourselves on having built successful relationships with:

• Borough, Town and Parish Councils

• Trusts and Foundations, both nationally and locally

• Community groups and individual donors

We are very grateful for all donations, and support is publicly acknowledged in our Annual Report.

Julie’s story

For 70-year-old Julie, loneliness and anxiety took hold during the pandemic. She told us: “my confidence plummeted, suddenly I had no visitors and was so worried about how I was going to manage. Being part of Link Visiting has been life-changing. I now feel safe, knowing I’ve got them to turn to and I love seeing my volunteer. We spoke on the phone twice a week and I really looked forward to her call.

We now meet up and she takes me out. Mostly I just love having someone to talk to about the things I worry about and she cheers me up and I hope I cheer her up too. I am so grateful for Link Visiting and helping me get through a very difficult and lonely time in my life”.