Preparing for Winter

Aim

Enabling older people to stay warm, well and prepared for winter.

Preparing for Winter in 2022

Who we Are 

The Link Visiting Scheme is a small, local charity whose mission is to confront the serious impact of loneliness among older people living in Wokingham Borough. The charity celebrates and honours older people in the community and offers a range of services and activities from 1:1 befriending, to a monthly Community Kitchen, from pub lunches and parties, to small friendship groups. Our aim is to help establish new relationships, and encourage older people to feel they can be an integral, important part of the community again – and have fun! We are always looking for volunteers to help make Wokingham Borough a friendly place to live and currently work with over 400 active volunteers and just under 500 older people.

Our Story So Far

Marjie began working at Link Visiting 15years ago. It was just a small church based project then with just 15 older people and volunteers. Since then, the vision and impact has grown and developed and we now have  14 paid staff and together we have connected thousands of people over the years.  We have see our volunteers as our army on the ground - making meaningful connections with older people with time to address individual concerns and address potential issues quickly and effectively. Listen to one of our volunteers Sam talk about her volunteer journey with Link Visiting 

Help Us Keep Older People Safe and Well This Winter

£2,500 will help us prepare and support those struggling with the rising cost of living crisis. 

We know that older people are particularly at risk this winter. Getting cold could lead to serious health issues and even death so we are taking the pressure of rising costs very seriously.

We know that older people often struggle to ask for help and this can be even more difficult if you are in the grips of loneliness. 

With funding, we want to ensure older people have:

•  A network of warm spaces to go to every day of the week
• The transport to get there
• Provisions to remain warm at home 
• The right information and advice to help with bills and extra costs
• Friendships, activities and events to improve wellbeing and know they are not alone or forgotten

'Since my husband died just before the pandemic, I've felt so alone. I don't have any family nearby. I joined Link Visiting and now see my volunteer every week. We go to the garden centre and I've joined in with Monday pub lunches. Link has helped me enjoy my garden again. I know I've got someone to turn to. The four walls have disappeared' - Maureen.

Our Plans

We want to:

• Send monthly newsletters in the post to our 500 Link Friends with vital public health guidance and advice to stay warm
• Proactively reach out to those with minimal or no family or friend support
• Hold monthly events across the borough promoting local groups and organisations for older people to join in with 
• Promote our 'Friendship Table' network - Warm Banks working with cafes, centres and community groups where older people can go to keep warm
• Work with our colleagues in the voluntary sector to ensure we have access to grants and funding pots to help individuals with costs
• Provide provisions such as warm blankets, hot water bottles and  extra clothing for those in need

This project successfully funded on 20th September 2022