Mar 2023

Link UP London is celebrating 150 Skilled Volunteering Projects in Wandsworth

Our ChangeMakers have contributed more than £234,000 worth of skills into Wandsworth

We are so proud to announce that this month we’ve surpassed 150 Skilled Volunteering project in Wandsworth which equates to £234,000 worth of skills invested into Wandsworth communities. This milestone highlights our commitment to connecting skilled professionals (our ChangeMakers) with Social Good Organisations (SGO; charities, social enterprises, community groups) in need of their expertise in the local community.

As many of you know, Link UP began in 2016 in Battersea. Co-Founders Kim and Aaron’s goal was to connect SGOs in need of specific expertise with professionals looking to volunteer their time and skills in a meaningful way. Since its launch, Link UP has grown rapidly, building a network of Skilled Volunteers who offer support to non-profits in areas such as marketing, finance, technology and much more, all over London.

We’ve supported 60 SGOs which has impacted more than 163,000 people in Wandsworth communities

While Skilled Volunteering is vital to the growth of many charitable organisations, Link UP volunteers also benefit from the connections, with many reporting that they feel like they are contributing to their community, gaining a sense of purpose and developing their skills and networks.

“We are delighted to have reached this important milestone in Wandsworth. It demonstrates the hard work and dedication of our team, volunteers, and partner organisations in the area. Our goal has always been to create meaningful, impactful connections between skilled professionals and non-profits, and we’re proud to be making a real difference in the lives of so many people in Wandsworth and beyond.” – Kim Perlow

The 150 projects in Wandsworth span a range of SGOs, from small community groups to larger, well-established charities. The Skilled Volunteers have contributed more than 2,700 hours of their time and expertise, helping to make a tangible impact in the lives of more than 163,000 beneficiaries served by the non-profit organisations in the borough. 94% of which are tackling poverty, vulnerability and marginalisation.

Hadas, CEO, Waste Not Want Not charity, benefitted from the support of one of our ChangeMakers. When sharing her experience with us, she said; “Our accounting system was in dire need of an overhaul, and we were struggling to provide clear reporting for our funders. Thanks to Link UP London, we were able to connect with Katerina, an experienced accountant who generously streamlined our processes making it possible to produce reports at the click of a button. The improvements have been invaluable to us, saving me so much time and resources while giving us greater insight into our financial situation and now Katerina has joined us as a Trustee, so we continue to find ways of working more efficiently with her support. We are incredibly grateful for Link UP’s service and the difference it has made for us.”

We are privileged to have had the opportunities to work with so many inspirational people and organisations over the past six years, and excited to continue strengthening these connections. We are now poised, in Wandsworth and throughout London, for continued growth and impact in the years to come and are committed to the development of a diverse list of local SGOs addressing issues such as migration, refugees, education, youth opportunities, disabilities, homelessness, community development, the elderly, the environment and more.

Feeling inspired to share your skills with an SGO working to make a difference in Wandsworth and beyond, take a look at our current project opportunities.