Highlighting the positive effect of Devon’s Westbank on the community
This week sees Breaktime News recounting the incredible difference which a Devon charity is having on its local community.
Exminster based Westbank Community and Health Centre is marking its 40th anniversary by launching a year long set of celebrations to showcase its work and highlight how it benefits people living nearby.
Earlier this week, we recounted how the facilities are benefitting Paul Gugan and his 14-year-old son, Malachi, from Dawlish. They use The Community Cookery School and The Gym at Westbank.
Today we meet Neil Parsley who uses The Community Cookery School at Westbank. We also hear from Emma, a regular gym user at the centre.
Neil, a 65-year-old retiree, attended the 6-week ‘Food Foundations Course’ in The Community Cookery School at Westbank in the Summer of 2024.
He signed up for the course after his wife of 44 years had received a cancer diagnosis. Neil needed to learn to cook so that he could care for her. Neil rarely cooked anything and had tried following an online cookery course.
He was relieved to hear about the ‘hands on’ cookery course at Westbank Community Health and Care.
By the end of the course, Neil’s confidence and cooking ability had significantly improved, and he went on to cook recipes he had learned at home.
As a result, he can now prepare healthy and nutritious meals for his wife and other members of family, including Christmas dinner.
‘The course exceeded all my expectations’
‘The Food Foundations Cookery course at Westbank Community Health and Care was just what I needed as everything was clearly explained step by step,’ says Neil.
‘The recipes are clearly laid out, and the facilities are excellent. The course exceeded all my expectations and has given me the knowledge, motivation and confidence to learn more about cooking healthy food.’
And it’s not just the benefits of healthy eating which are helping people across the county but the charity’s focus on our overall wellbeing.
Emma, from Exeter, attended Westbank’s 10-week Exercise Referral Programme in The Gym at Westbank between March and May 2025. She was supported by a dedicated member of the Fitness Team (Katie) during twice weekly exercise classes.
Emma was originally referred to Westbank Community Health and Care by a hospital physiotherapist with the aim of helping to improve her general fitness. There was also a focus on building strength and confidence following cancer treatment.
She was subsequently diagnosed with a medical condition which reduces the protein and mineral content of your bones (Osteopenia).
‘This programme is completely brilliant’
As such, it was important the Fitness Team designed an exercise programme to support her, focused on resistance and weight-bearing activities to improve her bone density.
At the end of the 10-week programme, Emma had made a huge improvement overall in the number of repetitions, sets and weights completed. She felt stronger, found daily tasks more manageable, and her pain and fatigue levels decreased.
Initially anxious about starting the Exercise Referral Programme and being in a gym environment, she felt comfortable at Westbank and grew to really enjoy her gym sessions. She found the experience hugely beneficial for her mental health too.
‘This programme is completely brilliant. It provides just the right amount of push and encouragement, but in a very supportive and encouraging way,’ says Emma.
‘The gym is ideally suited to rehab and Katie is extremely knowledgeable. Her support has been incredible.’
