A generous donation from the Exeter Chiefs Foundation has enabled Westbank Community Health and Care to kit out its accessible gym in Exminster with a fantastic new piece of equipment, offering the same functionality for both disabled and able-bodied users.
The compact Equalizer 6000 is one of the most effective multi-gyms in the world. Designed by a paraplegic and fully adaptive for wheelchair users, it allows people of all abilities to perform an extensive range of exercises, from rowing and bench presses to vertical butterflies and lat pulldowns.
More than 40 volunteers have attended a special celebration organised by Westbank Community Health and Care to thank them for their tireless hard work and dedication throughout the year.
The Exminster based charity relies on an army of volunteers to deliver its extensive range of health and wellbeing services across Devon. These include Devon Carers, which supports around 32,000 unpaid carers across the county; Westbank’s Neighbourhood Friends and Patient Transport services, which support vulnerable and isolated people in the community; the Community Cookery School; Exminster based...
I’ve been a qualified personal trainer since 2011 working in New Zealand and the UK. Throughout this time, I have specialised in training people at their homes and in public spaces with minimal equipment. You can achieve great results with bodyweight exercises – also known as calisthenics – but they do have some drawbacks. Read on to better understand the pros and cons of calisthenic training .
The benefits of calisthenic exercises
Anytime, anywhere! Calisthenic exercises require no equipment because they use an individual’s bodyweight for resistance. As a result,
Westbank Community Health and Care’s newest trustee, semi-retired health worker Pam Smith, has attended her first board meeting for the charity this month.
70-year-old Pam, from Alphington in Exeter, has worked in senior health service management roles for more than 20 years, including as a PCT Chief Executive. Since 2013 she has worked on a freelance basis supporting general practice, latterly mostly in Cornwall, working through a provider owned by all the GP practices in the county. Pam has previously chaired a small local dyslexia charity and is looking forward to supporting the...
Two volunteers for Devon charity Westbank Community Health and Care have been recognised at this year’s BBC Radio Devon Make A Difference awards, which celebrate people who genuinely make a difference in communities across the county.
Jane Taylor and Arthur Harman received their trophies from BBC Radio Devon presenters at a ceremony on Wednesday, held at Winslade Park in Clyst St Mary.
Jane Taylor, from Okehampton, is an ambassador for Westbank’s Devon Carers service and an unpaid carer for her husband, who has advanced MS. Jane won the Carer award, celebrating those who...
Throughout Volunteers’ Week (3 - 9 June), Westbank Community Health and Care is celebrating the army of volunteers who are the beating heart of the Devon-wide charity and sharing volunteers’ stories to inspire more people to help make a difference.
Volunteers’ Week - now in its 40th year - is a week when charities across the South West celebrate those who give up their time to help others and say thank you to them for the contribution they make. The week also raises awareness about the many benefits of becoming a volunteer and the diverse volunteering roles available.
A visit to the spa is a great way of relaxing and de stressing after a stressful week in the office. With so many different spa treatments available it can be hard to know which ones are the best when it comes to helping you achieve this. If you have been considering a hot stone massage as part of your trip to the spa, but are not sure what it is or what the benefits are, read one as we look at hot stone massages in detail.
What is a hot stone massage?
Let’s first take a look at what a hot stone massage actually is. As the name suggests, it involves the use of hot stones. These...
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is encouraging people to use the right healthcare for them this May bank holiday weekend as the region prepares for a further influx of visitors.
Residents and tourists to the South West are reminded to only dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
Bank holiday weekends can be a busy time for 999 services, especially if the weather turns out to be warm and sunny – whether in the garden, doing DIY at home, visiting family and friends, or exploring the region’s beauty spots.
I was recently asked by a client what my biggest fitness tips are for women over the age of 40. The majority of these tips are relevant to people of all ages and genders, so take a look!
Sleep
There was a time when sleep was seen as an indulgence, and successful people would boast about how little they slept. In recent years, fortunately, this has changed. Sleep is fundamental to our health, and should be prioritised for a long, happy and healthy life.
On average, people need between 7-9 hours of sleep every night. Preferences because we’re not all robots
An exciting series of events is being planned in Cranbrook this year with the aim of supporting residents to be more active and helping the town to celebrate its 13-year anniversary.
The events are being planned by Move More Cranbrook, the Sport England supported programme that aims to help residents in the town to lead more active lives.
And following the success of events last year which include the town’s first ever Santa Run, the Move More Cranbrook delivery group is on the hunt for volunteers to help it deliver a programme of events in 2024.
