Our Programmes

Members of the London (UK) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated deliver over a thousand documented hours of service to the community annually, touching the lives in the London community through programming across five facets: Services to Youth, The Arts, Health and Human Services and National Trends and Services and International Trends & Services.

Services to Youth

The Services to Youth facet is an integrated approach to preparing young people to succeed in the 21st century workforce. It has a goal of helping youth, particularly those of African ancestry, from pre-school to college, discover and reach their full potential.  It focuses on their concerns and well-being, while implementing programs that are responsive to the academic, cultural, health, social, career development, and mentoring needs.

The primary goals of this facet are to:

  • Promote literacy

  • Implement local mentoring programs

  • Close the academic achievement gaps

  • Introduce and support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S.T.E.M.) education and career readiness

  • Implement college readiness programs

  • Increase graduation rates and reduce the population of youth not in employment, education or training (N.E.E.T.)

  • Award college scholarships and build educational endowments

The Arts

The Links, Incorporated’s support of the arts can be traced to our cultured co-founder Margaret Roselle Hawkins. Her innate artistic talent, discovered at a young age, earned her a four-year scholarship to the Women’s School of Design, later known as the Moore Institute of Art. Her passion for creative expression later led to her appointment as an art teacher, and helped give root to the establishment of The Arts facet in 1964 at the 14th National Assembly.

Across the globe today, Links Chapters partner with museums, symphonies, arts councils, educational institutes and corporations in order to support art programs, especially where there is a focus on artists of colour. Our organisation is creating and supporting opportunities for educating minority youth in the arts and presenting and supporting performances by youth and accomplished professional artists in a diversity of disciplines.

The goal of The Arts facet is to increase and expand art activity, and elevate our programs through arts integration and effectively create an arts renaissance within our organisation and programmatic efforts.

Health and Human Services

The Links, Incorporated established the Health and Human Services facet in response to the chronic health disparities that persist in our communities and result in the decreased life expectancy of people of African descent. This new facet brings greater focus, resources, and coordination to The Links, Incorporated’s health initiatives already in existence. With the expansion of partnerships with national health agencies, and more definitive structure and support for our health related signature programs, our mission can flourish.

The mission of the Health and Human Services facet is to promote and facilitate programs that support the maintenance of good health and the elimination of chronic health disparities in communities of colour through education, health advocacy, and optimal utilisation of health resources. Community education about health risks is crucial and The Links, Incorporated can play a significant role in providing it.

The areas of emphasis are cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and organ, tissue and blood donation. All health-related programs are coordinated within this facet. This includes our signature programs: HeartLinks, Linkages to Life, and Walk for Healthy Living , as well as the National Childhood Obesity Initiative, oral health, brain health initiatives, and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure national partnership.

National Trends and Services

The National Trends and Services facet is committed to empowering communities by addressing the economic and social disparities in finance, housing, violence prevention, political influence, and empowerment. Within the London (UK) Chapter these areas are focused primarily on support of programmes which positively impact youth such as anti-knife crime initiatives and support for legislation that empowers youth and expands their developmental opportunities.

International Trends and Services

The mission of the International Trends and Services facet is to expand the global platform for programs designed and developed to service the educational, health and cultural needs of people of African descent throughout the world. All programmatic components of the facet are delivered through measurable and sustainable service delivery methods that reach women and their families.

The foremost goal of the International Trends and Services facet is to provide opportunities for tangible service in other countries. Our "boots on the ground" approach provides for more personalised methods for assisting and improving the lives of women, children and men worldwide through long-term programs committed to empowerment and public policy leadership in advocating for social justice. Members of the London (UK) Chapter support these programmes through personal volunteer service for initiatives sponsored by the National headquarters.

In addition, recognising the international composition of the London community we seek to expose youth to new cultures and encourage their education and participation in advocacy for people in need around the world.