About LINk

Local Involvement Networks were created as part of a requirement from the Local Government and Public Involvement Act 2007 to replace Patient Public Involvement Forums (also known as PPIs). LINks were given a much wider remit, covering both health and social care for adults. LINKs are funded by the Department of Health but are run independently from government.

Unlike its predecessor, LINk has statutory powers and the NHS, Adults and Communities and Local Government have a duty to respond to any of our enquiries or requests within 20 days. Moreover, LINk has also the power to enter and view premises when required. This means we can connect directly with the organisations concerned and form detailed cases for change by working with our members to identify issues quickly.

The Act also requires that every local authority contracts a host organisation to support the development and day-to-day activities of LINk.  Birmingham City Council contracted Gateway Family Services CIC to do this job locally. Gateway is a social enterprise, which means that any surplus is reinvested in the community to reduce inequalities in access to training, employment and community health. So, Birmingham LINk is a social project which relies on collaborations between communities and individuals who are passionate about health and social care issues. Working together, we aim to make positive changes and keep standards and opportunities high.

In Birmingham, LINk was launched in March 2009 and we have since engaged with people and organisations in many areas of the city. Membership is growing at a steady pace. Projects, such as our work with the Ward End Asian Elders and the Alum Rock Youth Project demonstrate how effective LINk’s strategy is becoming. The more actively we engage with the community, the more positive results we will be able to achieve.

We are always looking to recruit new members because as a voluntary body we rely on their input to make it happen. Staff from the host organisation support the core work of LINk and individuals and representatives of groups or communities in Birmingham take the projects forward themselves, committing their own time and ideas to effect change.

With regards to governance, Birmingham LINk is run by an elected core group of 25 people (with a minority number being co-opted as representatives of community groups). The core group meets every six weeks and is kept up-to-date with the work of the working groups through the Core Liaison Officers (CLOGs). Each working group has one member as a CLOG. While the core group focus on Birmingham LINk’s strategy, working groups tackle the grassroots level issues.

At present, Birmingham LINk has nine working groups:

We are always reviewing our list of working groups, based upon community need. So, please keep visiting our website or contact us to hear about which other working groups are being developed.

Further, more detailed information about Birmingham LINk, its structure and objectives, can be found here in our 2010 Strategy document

BIRMINGHAM LINk 2010 STRATEGY