Meet Carol

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My name is Carol and I am a Befriending Officer at The Link Visiting Scheme which is a local charity that receives vital funding from Wokingham Borough Council to help many residents across the borough. 

About The Link Visiting Scheme

For 25 years, The Link Visiting Scheme has brought vital, life-enhancing social connections to older people and volunteers in Wokingham Borough.

Through the work of our charity, with help and support from the council, we’ve seen lives transformed, adding thousands of hours of friendship, laughter and fun to people who had felt forgotten. 

My role is funded by the council and I head up and manage the Keep in Touch (KiT) project which is a brilliant service that aims to reduce, delay, and prevent the need for statutory services by providing early intervention.

This usually involves raising awareness of extra support they can access outside of the Link and referrals are made to the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.

Providing support to residents

We are in contact with over 550 residents, who are (affectionately) known as Link Friends and I support those who either have escalating needs and would benefit from some extra support.

This can be due to change of circumstances, deteriorating physical or mental health or increased caring responsibilities (unpaid family carers).

Some have had a recent bereavement or have financial concerns. We also help those who may be unaware of the extra support they can access outside of the Link. 

There have been over 90 referrals to KiT since April 2022 and I have contact with around 40 different clients each month. Link Friends are referred by my colleagues and volunteers who are concerned about them.

The support is quite intensive and usually involves a home visit. The key to its success is having the time to listen to the individual, building rapport and confidence, identifying their real issues and concerns, then helping them to find solutions.

They can have access to KiT support, for as long as is needed, usually until their problems have been resolved and they can make contact with me any time.

Invaluable service to residents

Many of our Link Friends find this service invaluable with some telling us things they’ve not had the opportunity to discuss previously.

These are often things they have never talked to anyone about before and they are always grateful to us for giving them our time and listening.

They seem to really appreciate the opportunity to really talk things through. This wouldn’t be possible without the financial support from the council.  

These Link Friends are given the time they need to talk through their situation and where appropriate, a personalised plan is put in place with the aim of the support enabling them to re-engage with the Link, society, or other community and social activities.

Most Link Friends are visited at home. This initial visit lasts as long as they need and can sometimes take more than two hours.

Not all clients are able to ‘move forward’ independently at this point so referrals are regularly made on their behalf (with their permission) to the statutory, voluntary, and private sectors. 

Significant contact is made either by myself, colleagues, or other service providers, and is usually in person. We follow up with our Link Friends regularly and also carry out formal reviews – always in a person centred (friendly) and caring manner. 

Learn more

• Visit the Link Visiting Scheme's website
• Fill out a contact us form
• Call (0118) 979 8019
• Find them at The Link Visiting Scheme, The Charity and Community Hub, Waterford House, Erftstadt Court, Wokingham, RG40 2YF