Our impact in 2022

 

For almost 25 years, we’ve brought vital, life-enhancing social connections to older people and volunteers. We’ve seen thousands of lives transformed with friendship and community, and we love what we do!

In 2022, we continued to help reduce loneliness amongst older people and to bring generations together in friendship and shared experiences. We supported our community with one-to-one befriending, Friendship Groups, activities, events and long-term projects such as Community Kitchen and Link to Nature. And thanks to the easing of Covid restrictions, we were able to safely provide fun and support on Christmas Day! We’ve seen the positive impact of friendship where we provide quality time, a listening ear and focused attention on individuals who so often feel invisible and forgotten.

We were delighted to welcome six new members to our team - Beth, Carol, Martha, Fiona, Liz and Sam. You read more about our fantastic team on our Meet the Team page.

Friendship in numbers

In 2022, we worked with over 1,000 clients and over 500 volunteers. 495 link-ups took place (carefully matching an older person experiencing loneliness with a trained volunteer).

Each year our charity continues to grow in size and we are grateful to be able to support even more people in our community. The number of clients we supported rose by 12%, and the number of volunteers rose by 5% since 2021. The Link Visiting Scheme has never been more needed, and we received close to 400 referrals from individuals struggling with the serious impacts of social isolation and chronic loneliness. The number of referrals we received was 10% more than last year.

Where our service wasn’t the right option, our team were able to make 561 personalised signposts to help individuals access the support they need. We are proud to have links with some fantastic organisations in our area to help make this happen.

We received consistently great feedback - with a 99.6% positive service rating.

“The Link gave me a life, I'd be lost without them and very lonely. They're lovely people and work so hard. I am so grateful."

Projects and activities

Bringing people together is the core of all that we do. We all crave connection, no matter what our age - it’s what makes life worth living! As well as one-to-one befriending and regular activities and events, we have designed and developed projects with quality connection at their heart.

Below is a list of how many new clients and volunteers joined in with projects and activities in 2022. Click on the headings to find out more.

  • Link Express: 39 new clients

  • Keeping in Touch: 74 clients, 227 signposts

  • Link Online: 32 new clients, 56 assessments, 11 new devices

  • Link to Nature: 56 clients, 33 volunteers, an ‘Outstanding’ award in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category

  • Active Minds course: 151 attendances by 22 clients

  • Bowls: 199 attendances by 35 clients

  • Chair Yoga: 148 attendances by 28 clients

  • Friendship Groups: 10 groups of volunteers and clients, 417 attendances by 47 clients

  • Community Kitchen: 5 events, 91 attendances by 48 clients

  • Singalong: 90 attendances by 27 clients

  • Pie and Pint: 360 attendances by 72 clients

  • Christmas activities: 191 attendees at all activities. Every Link Friend received a newsletter and gift directly to their door.

  • Christmas Day: 99 meals provided and a goodie bag filled with treats for all. 45 volunteers supported on the day.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm so very grateful for Link"

Fundraising

Our vision is a community where no one is ever too old to make friends and feel they belong. Support from individual donations and from our generous funders help us bring friendship and fun to those struggling with the serious impacts of loneliness and isolation.

In 2022, our funders supported us with over £76,000 to help us continue our work. We raised £35,400 in donations, including £20,000 in legacy donations. We are so grateful for this incredible support.

Looking ahead

2022 was another huge year for our charity, and we thank you for being part of our journey. Together we 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 have so much to look forward to in 2023. Make sure you’re following us on social media to be the first to hear more - click on the links in our website footer to follow our pages.

"If we didn't have The Link, life would be awful. You are absolutely marvellous"

 
The Link Visiting SchemeComment