Exminster

Pub, Exminster, Exeter, Royal Oak

Exminster pub puts on a right royal Christmas spread for local charity Westbank

Exminster public house The Royal Oak provided a festive community lunch for up to fifty guests as part of its year-long commitment to Devon charity Westbank Community Health and Care.

The pub will be supporting Westbank throughout 2023 after choosing the local organisation as its Charity of the Year.

The pub closed its kitchen to the public to lay on a complimentary two-course lunch for some of Westbank’s regular users and volunteers - and the festive fare went down a treat.

Pauline Dinnis, who was driven to the venue by Westbank volunteer Mark, said: “I’m...

Devon charity offers a warm space and a warm welcome this winter

Westbank Community Health and Care, based in Exminster, has opened its doors to local people as part of a new initiative to provide a warm and welcoming space to those challenged by the continual rise in the cost of living.

Mindful that many members of the local community are struggling as a result of the recent hike in their household bills, the charity has launched its Warmwell at Westbank initiative at its premises near Exeter.

The former Seedlings Cafe has been transformed into a comfortable, cosy space with a lounge and dining area where people can drop in for...

Inspired by Leo – why Chris has set himself a Marathon challenge

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 09/27/2022 - 12:23am

At the start of this year, Chris Jebb from Exminster had never run more than 10K but on Sunday (October 2) he’ll be joining thousands of others pounding the streets of the capital in the London Marathon. It’s undoubtedly a challenge but one which Chris is determined to complete in order to raise funds for a charity very close to his heart, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF).

“Back in 2017, my wife and I received the devastating news that our one week old son, Leo had an incredibly rare and complex liver condition,” explains Chris 33, an accountant for Exeter based Hi-Line...

Westbank's Kidzone Manager Lucy Elliott with two of the preschoolers in her care

Westbank expands its Kidzone as ‘Outstanding’ local childminder joins the charity

Local health and wellbeing charity Westbank will soon be providing even more services and facilities for preschool and school-aged children near Exeter, overseen by a highly-experienced new Childcare Manager.

The expansion of Westbank’s Kidzone will give families in the Exminster area the option of wraparound childcare - a ‘one-stop’ facility for drop-off and pick-up - and a stimulating new indoor-outdoor environment where their children can play and explore.

Lucy Elliott recently joined the Westbank team as Kidzone Childcare Manager. Lucy has more than 12 years of...

Cost of living crisis pushes thousands of Devon’s unpaid carers deeper into financial hardship and poverty

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 07/05/2022 - 5:21pm

Thousands of unpaid family carers across Devon, who were already experiencing financial hardship after having to give up paid work to perform their caring role, are being pushed deeper into debt and poverty, according to Devon Carers. Devon Carers is a service provided by local charity Westbank Community Health and Care, based at Exminster, near Exeter.

Even before the pandemic, a funding crisis in the social care system meant thousands of unpaid family carers in Devon and across the South West were under real pressure. Funding cuts and the closure of local care services have...

Care home residents help local families cook up a treat at Westbank

Local people of all ages have taken part in a community cookery event organised by the Devon-wide health and well-being charity Westbank Community Health and Care

Residents from Exeter care home Cumberland Grange joined local families in the kitchen at Westbank’s community hub in Exminster, where they prepared a healthy two-course meal together.

The idea behind the Ready, Steady, Cook-style event was to bring together people of different ages and backgrounds to share a fun experience and learn (or refresh) their skills in the kitchen. The three generations of cooks prepared...

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw walks a Mile with a Smile to raise awareness of Devon's unpaid carers

Exeter MP walks A Mile with a Smile to raise awareness of the role of Devon’s unpaid carers

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has been striding through Westminster - walking A Mile with a Smile - to help raise awareness of the everyday challenges faced by unpaid carers and the enormous contribution they make to families and communities throughout Devon.

It’s the first time Ben has taken part in the awareness raising event organised by Devon Carers, which was started during Carers Week two years ago. Devon Carers is a service delivered by Devon-based charity Westbank Community Health and Care that supports over 22,000 unpaid carers across the county. Carers Week is an annual national...

Jade Rouse, one of Westbank's younger volunteers, recommends volunteering

Devon health & well-being charity launches campaign to recruit more volunteers

As UK Volunteers Week begins (1 - 7 June) , a local health and wellbeing charity is launching a campaign to swell the ranks of its existing army of award-winning helpers. Westbank Community Health and Care, based at Exminster near Exeter, relies on over 600 volunteers to help deliver a range of support services to individuals and communities across Devon.

Last year, Westbank’s Neighbourhood Friends volunteers received royal recognition for their service during the pandemic with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This year, the charity hopes to take on even more volunteers...

Wellbeing facilitator Charlotte delivering a face-to-face session

Small lifestyle improvements make a big difference to those at risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Wed, 06/01/2022 - 12:53pm

People at high risk of Type 2 Diabetes who make small changes in their everyday habits over up to two years are much less likely to develop the disease, according to a project run by the Devon charity Westbank Community Health and Care.

Westbank’s Healthier Devon Diabetes Prevention Programme supports adults aged 18-90 years who want to improve their overall health and fitness. Many are patients referred by a GP or clinician because they are at high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes - a serious, debilitating and often lifelong condition. Individuals can also self refer.

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New Westbank Trustee James Wood  (photo courtesy of Stewarts Law)

Lawyer James Wood joins Westbank’s Board of Trustees to further the charity’s commercial interests

Devon-wide health and well-being charity Westbank Community Health and Care is delighted to welcome personal injury lawyer James Wood as its newest Trustee. His appointment was confirmed by the board on Wednesday (27th April).

James, who’s a paraplegic following a motorcycle accident as a young man, lives in Exeter and is a former Managing Director of a unique legal service called Aspire Law. Set up as a joint venture between Aspire Charity and a leading UK law firm, it made significant gains in the personal injury market under James’ stewardship - resulting in a lucrative extra...

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