Over the last few weeks, we have finally begun taking our first tentative steps back to normality under the guidance of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. Here is a reminder of some of the latest and forthcoming steps that make up this plan … Step two (which started on 12th April) – We saw […]

Bill, 87, from Cockermouth tells us how being matched with a friend through Cockermouth Linking Lives has given him a new lease of life … When Bill was referred through his medical practice to his local befriending service – Cockermouth Linking Lives – he didn’t imagine he would be matched with someone so well suited […]

Since September 2020, we have started to work with a number of Together Network partnerships across the UK to increase the number of telephone befriending services available to those hardest hit by isolating lockdown measures. At the start of the pandemic, we developed Two’s Company – a new telephone befriending service – which was based […]

Gilli Howarth – a befriending volunteer for Linking Lives Eastbourne – explains why she got involved with volunteering and how it has made a difference to her life. When Gilli Howarth moved to Eastbourne in 2015, she was struck by a feeling of loneliness. “I felt God calling me to Eastbourne so knew it was […]

Statistics released on 18th November 2020 (Office for National Statistics) have revealed a huge 4.2 million Brits now say they feel lonely most or all the time (compared with 2.6 million before the pandemic)! This is one of the many heart-breaking side effects brought about through this year’s coronavirus pandemic – something that will have […]

Covid-19 has brought innumerable challenges to the modern world and, with no immediate end to lockdown restrictions in sight, digital technology has come into its own. Demand for apps like Zoom and Skype have skyrocketed as friends and families attempt to recreate their social lives online. This is particularly the case for families with older […]

During Befriending Week 2020, we are all being invited to suggest our responses to the statement ‘Befriending is…….’ We all have a role to play The aim of Linking Lives UK is to address social isolation and loneliness through befriending relationships. Our local partner projects are making a crucial impact in the lives of older […]

We currently have one vacancy to work with Linking Lives UK and this is as follows: Training & Resources Manager Rate: £28,200-£33,840 FTE (£16,920-£20,304 actual) Hours: 24 hours per week – Flexible working available Status: Freelance/ Self-employed Location: Home-based Weeks worked per year: 47 Contract: One year initially (Subject to 6-month review) Reporting to: National […]

We are excited to be running a series of workshops as part of a Virtual Conference at the start of July. These sessions (and new ones which have been added) were due to be held as part of our annual conference which had to be postponed in March due to Covid-19. The theme through the […]

Following the huge physical, emotional and psychological challenges that NHS staff have faced over recent months, most people would expect many of them to be taking every opportunity to catch up on lost sleep and find as many opportunities for rest and relaxation. One ICU therapy team, however, based at Leicester Royal Infirmary is doing […]