About Us

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THIS IS

OUR STORY

Linking Lives UK has emerged from a successful charity based in Wokingham Borough – The Link Visiting Scheme (www.linkvisiting.org). Initiated in 1998 through Woodley Baptist Church in Berkshire, Link Visiting now works in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies and local churches around the Wokingham area. The charity has more than 180 volunteers engaging in weekly home visits for over 160 older people, and also operates a wide variety of well attended social activities and events.

In 2012, the possibility of extending the reach of the local befriending scheme to other areas of the UK began to be explored and this was assisted through a partnership with Cinnamon Network who provided advice and guidance in community franchising, as well as initial start-up funding. In 2016, the decision was made to create a new charity to develop the national initiative into the future and Linking Lives UK was registered with the Charity Commission in November 2016. (charity number 1170325)

HERE ARE THE ORGANISATIONS

WHO WE WORK WITH

We work primarily with churches and Christian agencies and provide the support, advice and resources required to set up a project in local communities. We plan to establish at least twelve new projects per year across the UK within the next three years. We were delighted to be nominated by Cinnamon Network for an award at the 2016 Christian Funders Forum Awards event in Lambeth Palace, and we received the Silver Award in our category of ‘Best Replicable Project’.

A LIST OF OUR

CURRENT PROJECTS

Our projects are already making a significant difference in their locality. To see the location of these, follow the link contained in the map opposite.

Volunteer visits improve the quality of life for isolated older people by increasing opportunities for engagement in the community, leading to improved mental health and increased confidence and self-esteem. Volunteers also benefit from learning about the experiences of those from other generations, and churches are become better placed to reach out to and care for those on the margins of their community.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

1,800,000

LONELY PEOPLE IN UK

500,000

SPEND CHRISTMAS ALONE

3,900,000

TV - THEIR ONLY COMPANION

PROJECTS TO COMBAT LONELINESS

THIS IS OUR AMAZING

TEAM

Our core operational team oversees the day to day running of the charity including regular liaison with partner projects and those working to set up a scheme; training; developing quality standards and resources; and raising the profile of our work. The team are:

JEREMY SHARPE

National Director

Jeremy is responsible for the strategic development of the charity which includes setting key objectives, measuring outcomes and supporting the staff team and local partner projects

Mobile: 07970 100131

JULIE MARSHALL

Partnership Development Worker

Julie's role involves liaising with churches and Christian organisations that may be interested in setting up a befriending scheme through Linking Lives UK.

Mobile: 07421 304039

CHRIS DRIVER

Support Services Manager

Chris provides back-office support for Linking Lives including finance, administration, partner support and systems development/ improvement.

Mobile: 07484 209190

LOUISE MACLAY

Regional Officer - West

Louise represents Linking Lives UK in the west of England and Wales and can be contacted by churches and other organisations interested in setting up project in the region.

Mobile: 07496 645913

EMILY KENWARD

Regional Officer - South

Emily provides support and advice to existing Linking Lives projects in the south of England and can be contacted by churches interested in setting up projects in the region.

Mobile: 07775 865845

SHOLA FIBERESIMA

Regional Officer - London

Shola provides support and advice to existing Linking Lives projects within the M25 and can be contacted by churches interested in setting up projects in the London region.

Mobile: 07883 010296

NICK AMIS

Regional Development Officer - Midlands & North

Nick is responsible for building links with churches, Christian organisations and other agencies in the Midlands region and assisting with training and maintenance of quality standards.

Mobile: 07979 366654

THESE ARE OUR

TRUSTEES

Our trustees are responsible for the effective governance of the charity including financial and legal aspects of the organisation. Our team of trustees are:

ALAN MAGNESS (CHAIR)

Alan was Chief Executive of a local charity, Christian Community Action, for 5 years. In 2004 he established a network of Christian social action agencies in Reading to strengthen mutual relationships and vision, and to raise their profile with churches and statutory bodies. In recent years, Alan has been the Local Strategic Partnership Coordinator for Reading Borough Council and had a key role in developing partnerships between statutory, voluntary and faith sector organisations. He attends Brookside Church in Reading and is an active member of Reading Christian Network.

JENNY SAWYER (TREASURER)

Jenny brings corporate experience to Linking Lives having worked in the development and construction industry for 20 years. During this time she was general manager for a charity that directly employed those from disadvantaged backgrounds on construction projects. She and her family are active members of St Andrew's Church in Sonning.

SHELAGH MARSHALL OBE

After 28 years as a county councillor shelagh is retiring. During, this time she has chaired the Social Services Committee later becoming portfolio holder on the Executive Committee. For 15 of those years she was a non-executive Director on three NHS Boards. Her love of older people began when she worked in Adult and Further Education, teaching retired people to cook and then tutored a full-time foundation course in Community Care. Currently she chairs Future Years, The Yorkshire and Humber Forum on Ageing and leads the Age Action Alliance Isolation and Loneliness Working group and is an Ambassador for the Campaign to End Loneliness. An active Christian, her regular place of worship is Bolton Priory in the Yorkshire Dales. Shelagh received her OBE in 2014 for her work with the elderly.

DR PETER ASHALL

Peter has held a number of senior positions in business, several of which involved company start-ups. These include a period as Senior Vice President of Nokia, CEO of Vertu and CEO of Zone V which is a start-up company providing mobile telecommunications for older people. He also runs a successful business consultancy. He was chair of trustees of Link Visiting Scheme in Wokingham for 5 years immediately following the registration of the charity. He is an active member of Kings Church in Wokingham

THIS IS OUR

PATRON

THE RIGHT REVEREND JAMES NEWCOME, BISHOP OF CARLISLE

James Newcome is Bishop of Carlisle. For several years he has been 'Lead Bishop' on Health and Social Care, and is currently Spokesman for the Church of England on health-related issues in the House of Lords. He was also a member of a Select Committee looking at the 'Sustainability of the NHS'.

He has served the Church in various capacities over the years, including a period as Lecturer and Tutor in Ethics in the Cambridge Federation of Theological Colleges. Among the books to which he has contributed are 'Setting the Church of England Free' (John Hunt) and 'At the End of the Day' (Church House Publishing). He is President of St John's College, Durham and 'Clerk of the Closet' to Her Majesty the Queen.