Westbank Community Health and Care

Westbank's newest trustee Marc Astley

Westbank's newest trustee is a man on a mission

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...

Westbank’s community Christmas celebrations

The run-up to Christmas has been busy for local health and wellbeing charity Westbank Community Health and Care, with a full calendar of events for members of its community and its team.

The festive celebrations got off to a heartwarming start when Year 2 children from Exeter Pre-Prep School visited Westbank’s Day Centre at Exminster to sing a melody of Christmas songs for regular...

Give a gift to charity or donate instead of sending Christmas cards

It’s traditional to send seasonal greetings at this time of year but a Devonwide health and wellbeing charity is encouraging people to make a donation instead of giving Christmas cards.

Westbank Community Health and Care has launched its ‘Donate in Lieu of Christmas Cards’ campaign, asking people to make a charitable gift rather than spending money on buying and posting cards this...

First newbie cooks ‘graduate’ from Westbank’s  recently launched Community Cookery School

First newbie cooks ‘graduate’ from Westbank’s Community Cookery School

Westbank Community Health and Care is celebrating the first cohort of newbie cooks to have completed Foundation Courses in basic kitchen skills at the charity’s recently opened Community Cookery School.

The purpose-built teaching facility at Exminster, near Exeter, opened its doors to beginner cooks this autumn, offering free eight-week workshops to people of all ages who want to learn...

Devon charity celebrates 25 years of supporting unpaid carers

Devon Carers, a free service by Westbank Community Health and Care, is this month celebrating 25 years of supporting unpaid carers across the county and is planning several events throughout the coming year as part of its landmark anniversary.

The charity provides a wide range of support services to those who look after family members or friends because they are ill, frail, or have a...

Westbank’s Devon Carers Information Fair

Do you look after someone who couldn’t manage without your help? There are at least 74,000 people in Devon who do, and Westbank’s Devon Carers is a free service to help them, delivered by Westbank Community Health and Care, and funded by Devon County Council and the NHS.

Devon Carers is hosting a free Information Fair for unpaid carers on Carers’ Rights Day, Thursday 23rd November, at the Exeter Phoenix in Gandy Street from 10 am to 4 pm. Carers Rights Day - a national event - is run every year to ensure carers are aware of their rights, know where to get help and support, and also...

Some of the team getting creative in the new Community Cookery School at Westbank

Devon health and wellbeing charity seeks support and sponsors for new community teaching kitchen

A Devon-wide health and wellbeing charity, based near Exeter, is seeking support from businesses and volunteers in the ‘final push’ for a new venture that will offer free workshops to people of all ages to teach them how to prepare nutritious meals from scratch with simple, affordable ingredients - at a time when cooking healthily, cost-effectively and sustainably has never been more important...

Westbank raises awareness of Devon’s army of unpaid carers in Carers Week

In response to this year’s Carers Week (5th -11th June) theme ‘Recognising and supporting carers in the community’, the organisation that supports thousands of unpaid carers across Devon is highlighting the invaluable role carers undertake, which saves the NHS and Social Care organisations across the county an estimated £2.324 billion a year!

Around 75,000 adults provide care for a...

New Finance Director joins the Board at Devon charity Westbank

Devon health and wellbeing charity Westbank Community Health and Care is going from strength to strength. A new Finance Director has recently joined the Leadership Team.

Stephen Thomas, 32, grew up in North Devon and takes up his seat on the Board of Westbank less than a year after his initial appointment as Head of Finance and Business Planning. His swift promotion is in recognition...

The caring face of politics?

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey MP, and the party’s by-election candidate for Tiverton & Honiton, Richard Foord, have met with unpaid carers in the constituency at an event organised by Devon Carers to mark Carers Week. Devon Carers is a service provided by the charity Westbank Community Health and Care, based at Exminster, near Exeter.

Sir Ed Davey, who’s been a...