Celebrating Friendship: A Vital Ingredient for Wellbeing
At The Link Visiting Scheme, we believe friendship isn’t just a bonus—it’s the glue that holds our health and wellbeing together. That belief came to life last week at our Community Café at All Saints Church in Wokingham, where we celebrated International Day of Friendship with our Link Friends, volunteers, and special guests.
The atmosphere was warm and happy as usual, filled with much laughter, conversation, and connection. We were honoured to welcome Borough Mayor Carol Jewell, Deputy Mayor Rob Comber, and High Sheriff of Berkshire Sean Taylor DL, whose presence made the day even more memorable for our guests.
Sean Taylor DL shared:
“It was a real pleasure to be a guest at The Link Visiting Scheme Friendship Day. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as I was! Meetings such as these are an invaluable way of bringing our community together and provide such enjoyment and a sense of wellbeing to all involved. I was grateful to be able to share in that today. Thank you again for the invitation and your tremendous hospitality.”
Deputy Mayor Rob Comber added:
“Link Visiting was one of the first charities I was introduced to as a councillor. I was impressed with them then, and I still am now. It was wonderful to meet and chat with a number of their Friends today, and lovely to hear how they clearly benefit from Link Visiting.”
These reflections echo what we hear so often from our volunteers. One long-time volunteer, Hugh, recently shared his experience of being matched with John (name changed), a Link Friend, for over eight years:
“The Link has been a Godsend for me personally… a welcome distraction from the day-to-day & I wouldn’t change a minute of it! We did normal stuff—drives to the south coast, shopping, cooking—and made the absolute best of our time and situation. The way you guys are truly the net that stops people falling through the cracks in the care and social systems is truly awesome. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, it’s making a difference.”
Hugh’s story is a powerful reminder of the mutual benefits of friendship. It’s not just about reducing loneliness—it’s about creating comfort, purpose, and shared memories. Whether it’s a cup of tea at the café or years of companionship, every connection matters.
Thank you to everyone who helped make our Friendship Day celebration so special. And thank you to our volunteers, past and present, who continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of our Link Friends.
