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)