FAQs about LINk

Joining a LINk is simple. See Finding your LINk for contact details of your nearest LINk.

Locate your nearest LINk on the Finding your LINk page.

Anyone who wants to have their say on how health and social care services are delivered in their area can become a member.

Groups such as charities, faith groups, residents’ associations, youth councils, black and minority ethnic organisations and business federations can also join.

Health and social care professionals can also be LINk members (as long as any conflicts of interest are appropriately managed) or may ask a LINk to gather public responses to planned or existing services.

Yes, anyone can join, from carers and service users to community leaders and patient representatives. No health or medical experience is needed. All you need is an opinion about the services in your area.

LINks are your chance to have your say about how local health and social care services are delivered. By getting involved you can:

• draw attention to neglected issues or ideas,
• influence those who make decisions about new or existing health and social care services,
• give members of the community more say about their health and social care, and
• help services provide better care.

No. It's free to join.

How much you participate with your LINk is up to you. It's easy to get involved and there are many ways to express your views. For instance, you could answer a quick survey or spend more time meeting health and social care providers as part of a working group.

There is no limit to how many people can join a LINk. For a LINk to be successful it's important that views are representative of the community as a whole. The more members a LINk has the better. 

Every local authority with a responsibility for social services has a LINk. To find your nearest LINk, go to the Finding your LINk page.

LINks help to bring about change. They listen to what you have to say and act on it. How much you get involved is up to you.

Yes. Each member's views are taken seriously. A LINk aims to find out what all local people think of local health and social care services in order to represent the views of the whole community. Your voice is essential to this process.

There are many ways to comment on health and social care services on the Contact us page.