Reading LINk

Driving meaningful social care change through local involvement

As part of a national initiative, Local Involvement Networks (LINks) were created to give communities a stronger voice in how health and social care services are delivered. In Reading, public awareness of the local LINk remained stubbornly low. Few residents knew the network existed, what it could do, or how they could take part in shaping services.

Reading LINk needed an accessible, engaging way to explain its role, highlight successes, and encourage local involvement. Working closely with the Reading LINk team, an eight-page, full-colour awareness leaflet was created. The design placed people and community stories at its core, with clear copy outlining LINk’s influence, examples of improvements already made, and straightforward ways for residents to get involved. The leaflet included a freepost form which made registering interest easy and barrier-free.

Distributed through community centres, health facilities and local organisations, the leaflet provided a practical, approachable tool to reach a broad demographic – including those less likely to engage digitally.

The results were clear

• increased awareness of Reading LINk and its influence in the local community
• more residents came forward to share experiences, provide feedback, and register their interest
• growth in active participation, with new members joining the group and LINk Board
• strengthened ability for Reading LINk to act on priorities such as mental health access, outpatient waiting times, and improved care for people with long-term conditions