Westbank Community Health and Care is marking Warm Welcome Week (20 - 26 January) with an upgraded warm space for members of the community in and around Exminster, seeking a welcoming, heated place during the daytime where they can share a cuppa and conversation this winter.
January can be a particularly challenging time of year, with Blue Monday a low point for many. To help combat the winter blues and ease cost-of-living pressures for those who are struggling to heat their home or feel isolated within their own four walls, Westbank has once again opened the doors of Warmwell...
Up to fifty older people who are regularly supported by the Exminster-based health and wellbeing charity Westbank Community Health and Care have enjoyed a sociable Christmas lunch laid on by The Royal Oak pub in Exminster.
The pub has been an ardent supporter of the charity for several years and once again provided a fabulous 3-course meal to spread some festive cheer. The Year 6 choir from Exminster Primary School provided the entertainment, singing Christmas carols to the lunchgoers.
100-year-old Ruth Coren from Exminster, a former nurse who turns 101 in the New Year, has...
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.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” It’s a phrase we often hear, and it couldn’t be more relevant for carers. Caring for someone you love is deeply rewarding, but it also comes with significant challenges. Prioritising your own well-being isn’t selfish — it’s essential.
While my focus here is on dementia carers, these insights can benefit all unpaid carers navigating the demands of caregiving.
Understanding the Value of Carers
The work of unpaid carers saves the government billions each year—a contribution that often goes unnoticed. Yet, carers deserve...
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...
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.
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
Marc Astley, a well-known local journalist and news editor, is the latest trustee to join the board of Westbank Community Health and Care and says he’s on a mission to spread the word about the work of this fantastic, community charity.
As an experienced media professional and a former editor of the Exeter Express & Echo newspaper, Marc is well-placed to do this. His achievements include co-founding the UK Daily Ltd, a stable of 10 online news and feature platforms including The Exeter Daily. He also set up the successful Exeter-based PR and Marketing Agency, Astley Media,...
