Wiltshire Link Schemes Good Practice Guide
About the Link Scheme Good Practice Guide
This Guide has been produced by Community First. It is intended to be used by Wiltshire Link Schemes both in the set up phase and as an on-going reference. It is based on the experience of the Link Schemes themselves, current legislation, and advice from a number of agencies.
Please note this Good Practice Guide is for guidance only. Each Link Scheme must review and amend documents, information, processes and policies to match their circumstances and needs.
The Wiltshire Link Schemes Good Practice Guide is available to view and download below. The document has been presented as a series of individual guides along with an annex.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information is accurate, this document is for guidance only and there is no assurance that it is a full statement of law. We do hope you find it useful, but no legal liability can be accepted by Community First or its employees.

Guide | Name | Download |
---|---|---|
![]() | Good Practice Guide Annex Contains a list of documents, templates and resources for Link Schemes in Wiltshire and Swindon. | Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide A: Link Schemes and Community First
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide B: Setting Up a Link Scheme
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide C: Link Management Committee and Trusteeship
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide D: Link Co-ordinators
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide E: Volunteer Recruitment and Support
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide F: Volunteer Activity and Guidance
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide G: Funding and Grants
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide H: Gift Aid
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide I: Risk Management, Insurance and GDPR
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide J: Operational Guidance
| Download |
![]() | Good Practice Guide K: AGMs and Other Meetings
| Download |
Good Practice Guide: Annex Documents
Please note: With the exception of the SAGE Application Form, all of the documents in the table below are designed to be opened in Microsoft Word. If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can download a free tool called Open Office which will also allow you to open and edit these template documents. The documents will not open in the browser window, please check your downloads folder.
Open Office
Download the free tool Open Office to open these documents if you do not have Microsoft Word on your computer
Name | Description | Download | |
---|---|---|---|
Guidelines - Drivers | Guidelines for Link volunteer drivers | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Gift Aid Flowchart | A flowchart from HMRC/Government showing the process for claiming gift aid for the main and small donations schemes. | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Home Visits | Guidelines for Link volunteers undertaking home visits with clients | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Health Related Journeys | Guidance for Link Schemes undertaking health related journeys | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Hospital Parking (for Administrators) | Guidance for Link Scheme Administrators on hospital parking (updated February 2023) | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Hospital Parking (for Volunteers) | Guidance for volunteers on hospital parking (updated February 2023) | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Safeguarding Flowchart | What to do if you are concerned that a child or adult is being abused | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Client Phone Questions | Suggested questions for Link Coordinators to ask potential new clients | Guidelines | Download |
Guidelines - Safer Recruitment Principles | Guidance on how to safely recruit Link Scheme volunteers | Guidelines | Download |
Guidance - Complaints Procedure | Wiltshire Link Schemes Complaints Guidance | Guidance Templates | Download |
Guidance - Donations | Wiltshire Link Schemes Donations Guidance | Guidance Templates | Download |
Guidance - Eligibility Criteria | Wiltshire Link Schemes Eligibility Criteria | Guidance Templates | Download |
Guidance - Equal Opportunities Statement | Wiltshire Link Schemes Equal Opportunities Statement | Guidance Templates | Download |
Guidance - Grievance Procedure | Wiltshire Link Schemes Grievance Procedure Guidance | Guidance Templates | Download |
Guidance - Handling Serious Illness or Accident | Wiltshire Link Schemes guidance for handling serious illness or accident during tasks. | Guidance Templates | Download |
Templates - Accounts | Wiltshire Link Schemes sample accounts template | Templates | Download |
Templates - Coordinator Application Form | Template application form for the role of Link Coordinator | Templates | Download |
Templates - Volunteers Application Form/Pack | Template application pack/form for Link Scheme volunteers | Templates | Download |
Templates - Annual Audit Form | A template audit form for your Link Scheme (including Guidance Notes) | Templates | Download |
Templates - Budget Template | Sample budget for a new Link Scheme | Templates | Download |
Templates - Client welcome letter | Template letter for new Link Scheme clients | Templates | Download |
Templates - Coordinators Agreement | Wiltshire Link Schemes sample Link Coordinators agreement | Templates | Download |
Templates - DBS Update Service Letter | Advisory letter template for volunteers about the DBS Update Service | Templates | Download |
Templates - Drive Plus Application | Drive Plus assessment application form | Templates | Download |
Templates - Drive Plus Leaflet | Information leaflet about the Drive Plus assessment scheme | Templates | Download |
Templates - Drivers letter to insurance company | A template letter for Link Scheme volunteers to send to their insurer | Templates | Download |
Templates - Gift Aid Acknowledgement | Template Gift Aid acknowledgement form for clients | Templates | Download |
Templates - Gift Aid Declaration | Template Gift Aid declaration form for Link Schemes | Templates | Download |
Templates - Induction Pack for Coordinators | Template induction pack for Link Scheme Volunteer Coordinators | Templates | Download |
Templates - Induction Pack for General Volunteers | Template induction pack for Link Scheme General Volunteers | Templates | Download |
Templates - Log Sheet for Requests | Template Link Scheme log sheet for client requests | Templates | Download |
Templates - Model Constitution | Template model constitution for a Link Scheme | Templates | Download |
Templates - Monthly Statistics Form | Link Scheme template monthly Statistics Form – By journey and task type | Templates | Download |
Operational Grant Application Form | Wiltshire Link Schemes - Annual grant application form | Templates | Download |
Templates - Reference Request | Sample letter template for Link Schemes requesting a reference | Templates | Download |
Templates - Risk Assessment Template | Risk assessment template for Link Schemes | Templates | Download |
Small Grants Application Form | Wiltshire Link Schemes - Small grants application form (development, innovation and emergency) | Templates | Download |
Templates - Volunteer Expense Sheet | Template for Link Scheme Volunteer expenses | Templates | Download |
Templates - Volunteer Recruitment Record Sheet | Wiltshire Link Scheme record sheet for volunteer recruitment activity | Templates | Download |
