HealthLink360: Celebrating 40 Years of Caring

Thanksgiving Event at Carberry. Photos by G Davies-Jones and R Milliken

On 13th October, we hosted a vibrant and memorable thanksgiving event to celebrate 40 years of HealthLink360.

The event paid tribute to our 40 years of caring for those who care for others, with a commissioned spoken-word piece by writer and actor Fiona Stewart; stories of the early days shared by founders Mike and Liz Jones and an inspiring word on compassion from Canon Rev Mike Parker. Director Nicki Davies-Jones presented a strategy for the future, building on HL360’s trailblazing past.

Since our inception in 1983, HealthLink360 has been committed to providing high quality healthcare services. We’ve evolved over the years, relocating and expanding our services, while staying true to our original mission of caring for those who care for others.

HealthLink360 works with missionaries, aid agency workers, medical relief teams, volunteers and local sending organisations, undertaking work in challenging and often hostile environments. Open to those of all faiths and none, our Christian ethos and history motivates and informs our approach.

We opened our doors as Care for Mission, under the expert care of Dr Mike and Liz Jones, registering as a charity in Scotland. In 1999, we relocated to our current location in Carberry in East Lothian, not far from Edinburgh.

2011 marked a significant milestone in our history; HealthLink360 was formed, as a merger between Care for Mission, EIHC Travel Ltd, and Medeserve, to form a single charitable organisation. This consolidated our resources, allowing us to reach more people in need of medical and psychological support, and further broadening our scope of services.

In 2017 HealthLink360 became regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. This formal recognition attests to our commitment to delivering the highest standards of care to our patients. We launched the Caroline Hunter Bursary Fund in 2021. The fund aims to help those who need help accessing counselling services, but whom might struggle with the cost.

As we reach our 40th year, the thanksgiving was a perfect opportunity to reflect on the journey that has brought us here and to look forward to the future. As we continue to expand and deliver our range of services, including travel consultations, vaccinations, medicals, psychological therapies, counselling, and employer support packages, our mission remains unchanged: to care for those who care for others.

More to follow about the 40th event in next month’s blog…