The Link Visiting Scheme
/ June 2023In January this year we awarded funding to The Link Visiting Scheme. They are a Wokingham based charity whose mission is to confront loneliness and celebrate friendship. They aim to prevent, delay and reduce loneliness and social isolation, by promoting friendship and improving the health, wellbeing, and independence of older residents throughout the Wokingham Borough.
Our funding went towards equipment for their bowls project. Every week 12-14 Link friends, plus volunteers, meet up and they were in urgent need of some light weight Bowls.
They have now purchased a new lightweight selection of better bowls, which has allowed them to open the activity up to a wider range of Link friends, including those with reduced mobility and additional needs, including dementia, arthritis, stroke and also wheelchair users. The same applies for their outdoor bowls, where they are now able to include far more Link Friends in terms of numbers and thus removing barriers for those less able.
This year between 1st January and 6th June they have held seven indoor bowls sessions and three outdoor sessions. This is such a popular activity for the bowls and the social connection, and with the warmer weather they are now looking forward to many more coming along to join in.