What Linkage Community Trust does

Linkage Community Trust is a UK-registered charity (No. 504913) and Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 01240377), founded in 1976, that delivers integrated services for people with learning disabilities and autism across Greater Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The Trust operates five service lines: Linkage College (specialist further education with campuses in Grimsby, Lincoln, Lincoln Minster Provision and East Riding/Beverley); Linkage Choices (adult day services from Spilsby/Toynton, Lincoln and The Green at Mablethorpe); Linkage Care (residential and community supported living across 14+ named hubs including Oak Lodge, Beech Lodge, Livingstone Court, Vale View, Sycamores and Abbey House); Linkage Employability (work placements, Supported Internships and the Project SEARCH programme); and Linkage Outreach (Sensory Outreach Programme and Small Animal Care Centre, the former delivered through a new Mobile Sensory Space launched in 2024).

The Trust's service infrastructure is built around physical estates — care homes, college campuses, day centres, a heritage café and the Victorian Weelsby Hall acquired in 1982 — supplemented by specialist equipment including the mobile sensory vehicle and the Discovery Suite at Weelsby College, an interactive learning environment combining floor projections, Numicon, phonics and communication software with 20-minute 1:1 symbol-supported sessions mapped to EHCP targets. Technology integration is limited to Google Analytics on the website, online fundraising platforms (JustGiving, easyfunding), and PECS/symbol-supported communication tools; data handling follows UK GDPR with a documented Data Protection Policy.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: commissioned care, education, day and employability services from local authorities, the NHS and individual EHCP/personal-budget payers; competitive grant funding (notably a £3.5 million National Lottery Heritage Fund award in 2026 for Weelsby Hall and £164,316 from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2024); ancillary trading via the Linkage Charity Shop, Boultham Park Café, Linkage Lottery and Eventbrite ticketed heritage tours; and community fundraising events such as the Ørsted Great Grimsby 10K, City of Lincoln 10K and the Flem to Wem Bikeathon. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees and an Executive Leadership Team led by CEO Valerie Waby, with the Trust operating from its registered office on Weelsby Road, Grimsby.

Name

Linkage Community Trust

Legal name

Linkage Community Trust

Website

https://linkage.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Linkage Community Trust is a UK-registered charity, founded in 1976, delivering integrated care, specialist further education, day services, employability support and sensory outreach for people with learning disabilities and autism across Greater Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Spilsby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charitable Service Delivery (Care, Education, Employability, Day Services): Core revenue stream delivered via commissioned care, specialist further education, day services and employability programmes funded primarily through local authorities, the NHS and direct payments from families for people with learning disabilities and autism across Greater Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
2. Grant Funding: Multi-source grant income including National Lottery Community Fund (£164,316 for mobile sensory space), National Lottery Heritage Fund (£3.5 million bid for Weelsby Hall project), Pilgrim Trust, Historic Houses Foundation, UK Government/North East Lincolnshire Council, Create North East Lincolnshire Development Fund, and Arts Council England.
3. Charity Retail and Hospitality: Revenue from the Linkage Charity Shop and the Boultham Park Café in Lincoln, which also serves as a community hub and 50th anniversary venue.
4. Fundraising and Donations: Income from individual donations, the Linkage Lottery, sponsored events (Ørsted Great Grimsby 10K, City of Lincoln 10K, Flem to Wem Bikeathon), easyfunding cashback donations, and JustGiving campaigns supporting specific projects such as 'Linkage in Bloom' and Weelsby Hall restoration.
5. Heritage Events and Tours: Ticketed small-group heritage tours of Weelsby Hall (Secrets Behind the Trees), Heritage Open Days, and similar heritage experiences sold via Eventbrite, typically £10 per person plus booking fee.
6. Volunteering and Corporate Partnerships: Value generated (and some direct income) through volunteer engagement and named corporate/charity partnerships (Friends of Weelsby Hall, etc.) supporting the work of the Trust.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Linkage Community Trust is a registered charity delivering integrated care, specialist further education, day services, employability programmes and sensory outreach for people with learning disabilities and autism across Greater Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Its core offerings are organised around five service lines — Linkage College, Linkage Choices, Linkage Care, Linkage Employability and Linkage Outreach — and are complemented by a heritage venue (Weelsby Hall), a community café, a charity shop and a fundraising lottery.

Product overview

Linkage Community Trust operates a multi-service charity platform organised around five core service lines: Linkage College (specialist further education), Linkage Choices (adult day services), Linkage Care (residential care and community supported living), Linkage Employability (employment support and Supported Internships, including the Project SEARCH programme), and Linkage Outreach (Sensory Outreach Programme and Small Animal Care Centre, now delivered in part through the new Linkage Mobile Sensory Space). These core services are complemented by ancillary fundraising and community assets — Weelsby Hall (a Victorian heritage venue being restored through an 'inclusive and sustainable future' project), Boultham Park Cafe, the Linkage Charity Shop, and the Linkage Lottery — together with embedded education features such as the Discovery Suite at Weelsby College. The architecture is therefore a service-line portfolio rather than a single unified software product, with each named offering addressing a distinct stage or domain of support for people with learning disabilities and autism across Greater Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Linkage College: One of the longest established specialised independent further education colleges in the country for young people with learning disabilities and autism, operating campuses including the Weelsby Campus in Grimsby, Lincoln Campus, Minster Provision, and an East Riding site.
• Linkage Choices
• Linkage Care
• Linkage Employability
• Linkage Outreach
• Weelsby Hall
• Boultham Park Café
• Linkage Charity Shop

Products and services

• Linkage College A specialised, independent further education college for young people with learning disabilities and autism from across Greater Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. Provides bespoke study programmes, residential placements, careers education, courses and qualifications, and student support aligned to individual EHCP outcomes, with campuses including Weelsby Campus (Grimsby), Lincoln Campus, Minster Provision and the East Riding site.
• Linkage Choices A flexible day service for adults with learning disabilities and autism, offering a range of activities and independence opportunities across community, employability, health and wellbeing, and independence pathways. Operates from multiple locations including Toynton (Spilsby), Lincoln, and The Green at Mablethorpe.
• Linkage Care Provides high-quality residential care and community supported living for people with learning disabilities and autism across Greater Lincolnshire, creating bespoke care packages. Includes supported housing hubs such as Oak Lodge, Beech Lodge, Livingstone Court, Vale View, Sycamores, Swallowdale, Abbey House, Pelham, Bellamy's, Yew Tree, Scremby Grange, Oliver House and Keal View.
• Linkage Employability Supports individuals with learning disabilities and autism to achieve employment and independence aspirations through work placements, Supported Internships (including the Project SEARCH programme delivered with NHS hosts such as DPoW Hospital) and the Working 4 Good programme with Hull CVS. Includes employer engagement with partners such as ESS at RAF Coningsby.
• Linkage Sensory Outreach Programme (Mobile Sensory Space) A community-based sensory outreach service delivering sensory environments and sensory therapy across the Greater Lincolnshire community via a mobile sensory space vehicle. Brings sensory experiences to schools, community events (including A Perfect Day festival) and rural communities for people with learning disabilities and autism who cannot easily access fixed-location sensory facilities.
• Linkage Small Animal Care Project A small animal care project supporting therapeutic and skills-development activity for people supported by Linkage, complementing the broader outreach offering alongside the Sensory Outreach Programme.
• Weelsby Hall heritage venue and tours A late-Victorian Hall built for George F. Sleight, acquired by Linkage in 1982 and operated as a heritage venue. Offers ticketed guided tours ('Secrets Behind the Trees' at £10 per person + £1.55 booking fee via Eventbrite, ages 12+), Heritage Open Days, an oral history project, and Friends of Weelsby Hall volunteering. Currently undergoing the National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported 'inclusive and sustainable future' restoration project.
• Boultham Park Café A Linkage-operated community café in Boultham Park, Lincoln, used as a hospitality venue and as a fundraising asset for the charity. The in-house catering team bakes cakes and runs craft stalls, with the site also hosting community events.
• Linkage Charity Shop A retail operation run by Linkage Community Trust that sells donated and sourced goods to raise funds for the charity's services, while also providing engagement opportunities for volunteers.
• Linkage Lottery A fundraising lottery operated by Linkage Community Trust under its Get Involved programme, providing supporters with a recurring contribution mechanism to fund the trust's charitable services.

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• DPoW Hospital (NHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Hosts Linkage's Project SEARCH supported internship programme. Interns rotate through hospital departments, with NHS Business Liaison Kiera Wilkinson coordinating careers events such as the National Careers Week fair. Project SEARCH interns also use the DPoW library team for daily lessons.
• ESS at RAF ConingsbysupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Employer partner that hosted Theo on a Project SEARCH supported internship in catering and hospitality, resulting in paid employment. ESS supported Theo throughout his journey.
• Hull CVSsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Hosts Linkage East Riding students Elliott and Rebecca for work experience through the Working 4 Good programme at Beverley Road offices. Hull CVS celebrated its 2-year anniversary with the Linkage interns' support.
• East Riding CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Mechanic Noah, an apprenticeship ambassador, spoke to Linkage East Riding students about apprenticeship opportunities available through East Riding College during National Careers Week.
• Compass GosupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Guest speakers Shaun and Leanne from Compass Go delivered a Mental Health Awareness Week session for Project SEARCH interns at DPoW Hospital, covering the 'circle of control' and emotional regulation strategies.
• Beverley FMminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Community radio station that hosted Linkage student Rhyley Carter for a one-hour live show on 7 March; Beverley FM is now exploring a regular spot for him.
• Humber Maritime Disability GamessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional disability sports event hosted at Hymers College, Hull, celebrating over 35 years of inclusive sport. Linkage takes part with a team; registration coordinated by Emma Jackson.
• David Lloyd (gym)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Local David Lloyd gym served as a venue for Linkage's Flem to Wem bikeathon fundraiser, alongside Flemingate, where staff, students and people we support cycled 257 miles in 6 hours.
• Zest TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Creative partner working in partnership with Arts Council England. Zest Theatre visited Linkage's Lincoln campus during National Careers Week to discuss projects for creative young people.
• Rushby Dance / Beth RushbyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Local dance school owner Beth from Rushby Dance delivered National Careers Week dance workshops at Linkage's East Riding and Weelsby campuses, with Q&A on careers in dance and running a dance business.
• Ellie Scott (professional scooter rider)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Top-10 female professional scooter rider who spoke to Linkage East Riding students about her sporting journey, coaching and competitions.
• Kelly (Early Years careers speaker)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Early Years sector speaker who delivered a World Book Day careers session at Linkage's East Riding campus, including a hands-on story spoons activity.
• NHS Health Visitor and School NurseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Delivered a careers talk to Linkage East Riding students on NHS roles (350+ career options), with hands-on baby-weighing and measuring activity.
• Tom Roberts (NHS guest speaker)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Co-presented at the National Careers Week Project SEARCH launch at DPoW Hospital, sharing insights into working for the NHS and the support available to interns and apprentices.
• Arts Council EnglandsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-funds the Perfect Festivals 'A Perfect Day' inclusive arts festival via the North East Lincolnshire Vision for Creativity. Arts Council England also runs creative careers sessions for Linkage students (Lincoln campus Arts Council England visit).
• Perfect FestivalssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Community-driven festival group organising the inclusive 'A Perfect Day' arts festival annually. Linkage's Sensory Outreach Team attends with sensory equipment; supported by North East Lincolnshire Vision for Creativity and Arts Council England.
• NHS Business Services AuthoritysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Linkage shares limited personal data with the NHS Business Services Authority, others in the wider NHS, and sometimes Local Authorities for the provision of healthcare and treatment and performance of tasks in the public interest (per the Privacy Policy).
• Flemingate (shopping centre, Beverley)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Hosted the start/cycling location for Linkage's Flem to Wem Bikeathon, helping raise funds via this community partnership.
• Kate WitneyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local singer and singing teacher who performed folk music at the Weelsby Hall Heritage Open Day. Folk festival promoter reviewed: 'Her voice is rich and clear.'
• Nicky DillerstoneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Local textile mixed-media artist delivering architecture-themed art workshops during the Weelsby Hall Heritage Open Day festival.
• David Smith (local historian)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Local historian and Friends of Weelsby Hall project volunteer who leads guided tours of Weelsby Hall during Heritage Open Days and the Secrets Behind the Trees tours.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hft (Home Farm Trust): One of the UK's largest charities supporting people with learning disabilities, offering supported living, residential care, day services and personalisation — overlapping directly with Linkage Care and Linkage Choices.
• Livability: UK disability charity running residential care, supported living, education and community services. Operates a similar integrated service portfolio including a specialist further education college (Livability Nash College).
• United Response: UK charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs through supported living, residential care and day services. Highly comparable as a multi-service disability charity reliant on local authority commissioning.
• Achieve Together: Provider of supported living and residential services for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs across England. Closely comparable to Linkage Care's residential and supported living hubs.

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: National learning disability charity operating supported living, day services, education and employment programmes at far larger scale. Comparable as a sector leader in the same beneficiary cohort, though with broader national scope.
• Voyage Care: Large specialist provider of supported living, residential care and outreach for people with learning disabilities and autism. Comparable to Linkage's commissioning-based care model at greater scale.
• Sense: National charity supporting people with complex disabilities including learning disabilities and autism, with residential, day, education and community services. Comparable as a multi-service disability charity with established accreditations.
• National Autistic Society: UK-wide charity providing services, education and employment support for autistic people. Comparable around the autism cohort within Linkage's beneficiary base and around specialist further education delivery.

Regional players

• United Learning: Multi-academy trust operating specialist colleges and schools including provision for students with SEN. Comparable to Linkage College as a specialist further education provider with a portfolio of sites and strong employer engagement.
• Autism Concern: East Midlands-focused charity providing autism-specific day services, supported living and employment support. Comparable to Linkage Choices, Linkage Care and Linkage Employability within a similar geographic catchment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Linkagecommunitytrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/weelsby-hall
• Xx.com/LinkageCT

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Linkage Community Trust