Westbank Community Health and Care

Westbank celebrates 20 years of Kidzone with current and former attendees

Westbank Community Health and Care has celebrated the 20th anniversary of its dedicated childcare facility, Kidzone, with former and current attendees. The Ofsted-registered facility at Exminster cares for more than 140 children in total, offering nursery, pre-school, holiday clubs and wrap-around school care for children up to 11 years old. From early summer this year, Kidzone has accepted babies aged from 5 months, and this age group is slowly building.

Employee Jennifer Knight attended Kidzone herself when she was younger. As did 15-year-old Hannah McDonald from Exminster, who...

All aboard - a new initiative to support Devon’s Young Carers

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Thu, 10/02/2025 - 10:43pm

Devon Young Carers at Westbank has launched a new initiative to support young people who care for family members. Called the Young Carers Movement Group, it gives young carers a platform to share their views on the support service provided by Westbank Community Health and Care, as well as suggest improvements, and highlight additional support young carers would like to see in the future. The new group also provides a safe space to talk openly about the challenges and experiences of growing up as a young carer.

As a thank you for their valuable time and input, Devon Young Carers...

Walking the extra mile for Westbank to celebrate 21 years of Health Walks

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Sun, 09/14/2025 - 12:07pm

A team of staff and volunteers from local charity Westbank Community Health and Care, who took on a fundraising challenge this month to collectively walk 360 miles - a distance equivalent to the circumference of Devon - have already exceeded their goal by walking more than 600 miles so far.

This month, Westbank is celebrating the 21st anniversary of its extensive Health Walks programme and Project Lead Debbie Hutchinson came up with the idea of linking all of the different routes by organising her ‘Walk for Westbank’ challenge. She has been joined on the various stages of her...

Westbank’s Community Allotment made accessible to all thanks to Kier’s volunteers

Manpower and materials donated to Westbank Community Health and Care by the Kier Group have transformed the charity’s Community Allotment at Exminster into a space that’s accessible to everyone.

Eleven local volunteers from Kier’s Natural Resources Nuclear & Networks division recently worked over a total of about 4 days to create a tarmac access ramp, level the ground and lay a concrete pathway to make the allotment accessible to wheelchair users. The monetary value of the work amounts to approximately £7,000, including labour and materials.

Kerry Fenton of Kier NRNN...

Devon health and wellbeing charity seeks new Trustees for its next exciting chapter

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Wed, 07/09/2025 - 12:13pm

Westbank Community Health and Care, a successful health and wellbeing charity that’s continuing to grow and extend its services across the whole of Devon, is on the lookout for new Trustees who can offer their experience and a fresh perspective to support the governance and growth of an award-winning organisation.

The charity provides a multitude of community-based health and wellbeing services across the county, delivered by a team of staff and volunteers. Westbank’s Board of Trustees, all volunteers, bring their diverse range of skills to the charity, helping people of all ages...

Devon Carers at Westbank marks Carers Week with a host of events and a new book to support unpaid carers

Devon Carers at Westbank, the service which currently supports almost 34,000 adult unpaid carers across the county, has lined up a full programme of events throughout Carers Week this June and will be launching a new book for carers called “Give Me A Break”. Produced by local health and wellbeing charity Westbank Community Health and Care, the book is full of hints, tips and ideas to help unpaid carers take time out from their caring role, regardless of whether they can spare fifteen minutes, half an hour or longer.

The publication will be available during Carers Week from Monday...

Winning streak for Devon health and wellbeing charity Westbank Community Health and Care

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Wed, 06/04/2025 - 11:52am

An Exminster-based health and wellbeing charity is on a winning streak, having received Devon-wide recognition for the scope and impact of its work supporting local communities, hot on the heels of several other commendations.

Westbank Community Health and Care is delighted to have won the Community Champion award in the Devon Chamber Business Awards 2025. Chris Bloye, Westbank’s Head of Business Services and Operations, proudly collected the award at a recent reception at Plymouth’s Crowne Plaza.

Chris Bloye says, “It’s a privilege to have received this award on behalf...

Westbank Community Health and Care commemorates the 80th anniversary of VE Day

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Fri, 05/09/2025 - 10:48pm

A themed celebration has been held at Westbank Community Health and Care on the eve of Victory in Europe Day to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe. On 8 May 1945 huge crowds took to the streets to sing, dance and rejoice after nearly six years of war against Nazi Germany. At Westbank’s Healthy Living Centre in Exminster today a group of staff, volunteers and regular service users, some of whom were small children when the war ended, gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day and share their memories and thoughts about WWII.

The VE Day party...

Westbank delivers hospitality with a heart

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Thu, 05/08/2025 - 12:50pm

Devonwide charity Westbank Community Health and Care is expanding the Conferencing and Hospitality services it offers at its Healthy Living Centre in Exminster, near Exeter.

Best known for its wide range of preventative health initiatives to combat loneliness and social isolation, Westbank also brings people together by providing first-class Conferencing and Hospitality 'with a heart'. Profits made from these services are ploughed back into the charity’s numerous self-funded community initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across Devon. These...

Westbank takes part in March’s #FreeWillsMonth

Authored by Sharon Goble
Posted: Wed, 03/26/2025 - 10:04am

There are just days left to take advantage of a FREE Will writing service offered by Devon health and wellbeing charity Westbank Community Health and Care this March.

It can be overwhelming to think about preparing a Will, knowing what you need to do and how the process works. March is #FreeWillsMonth and Westbank is taking part through the charity’s partnership with Kwill.

A Gift in your Will to Westbank Community Health and Care helps support and empower the charity’s community of helpers to better look after people across Devon, supporting their physical & mental...

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