Donate
In Wokingham Borough, loneliness is on the rise, especially among our growing older population, many of whom tell us they feel forgotten. Each year, we need to raise over £500,000 to help the growing number of older people who are referred to us. With your support, we can be there for the people who need us most, offering friendship, connection, and the reassurance that someone truly cares.
Every gift helps us make sure older people in our community feel seen, supported, and valued.
Make a regular donation
Our work is both urgent and long-term, so monthly donations are the most effective way to support us.
Make a one-off donation
Every donation, regardless of its size, makes a real difference and helps us continue our vital work.
David’s story
For 70-year-old David, loneliness and anxiety took hold during the pandemic. He 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 his call.
We now meet up, and he takes me out. Mostly, I enjoy having someone to talk to about the things I worry about, and he cheers me up, and I hope I cheer him up too. I am so grateful for Link Visiting and helping me get through a very difficult and lonely time in my life”. *Name changed
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. We enjoy hearing how regular visits and calls have transformed daily lives. Link Friend Roy told us his volunteer “helps a tremendous amount and I enjoy her visits”. Link Friend Anna shared, “It was a great morning today…we were roaring with laughter. It’s such a tonic.”
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.
Other ways to give
Leave a legacy
Leaving a gift in your Will enables us to provide friendship and support for people in Wokingham long into the future. Every gift in every Will, no matter how large or small, makes a difference.
Fundraise
Your support is more crucial than ever! Take on a fundraising challenge today and become a champion for our cause! Discover our fundraising pack full of tips and ideas.
Link Lottery
Join the Link Lottery for as little as £1 per week and you could be in with a chance at winning one of the fantastic cash prizes, including the £25,000 jackpot, all whilst helping support our important work.
Corporate support
Charitable support for the Link is a great way to engage staff, customers and key stakeholders whilst meeting your corporate social responsibilities. Your company can make a huge impact on local communities.
Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers to give some of their time regularly to make isolated older people in their community feel connected and valued. Choose from a range of different roles.
Our impact
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.
Some incredible highlights from the past year…
1,319 Link Friends and volunteers supported
180 regular weekly or monthly activity sessions, with over 2,350 attendances
515 people volunteered in the past year
18 members of our team
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.
“Without her, I don’t know where I’d be. I look forward to her so much. It’s the one thing I rely on.”
- Barbara, 92