Westbank Community Hub has a mission to support everyone in its community

Westbank Community Hub, based in Exminster, Devon, is a space with a mission to support everyone, from asylum seekers to young carers. They have created an environment to bring people together and build a welcoming, resilient community. Its vision is for everyone to be living fulfilled, healthier, happier lives for longer.

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Incredible partnerships power much of their work, with food donations from Sainsbury's and FareShare to help support the warm space, cookery school, community larder, and emergency food boxes. Every Tuesday, the Hub runs a Men’s Brunch and a Women’s Hobby Group and Afternoon Tea, with transport provided from surrounding rural villages to ensure no one misses out.

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Westbank’s Kids Zone is a vibrant after-school and holiday club that receives support from Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) funding to make sure no child is left behind. During Christmas and Easter, the children join the wider community for celebrations in the community cafe, bringing generations together.

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Devon Carers has also partnered with the space to support young carers, who make up an estimated one in three children in the classroom. They provide a food foundation course and one-pot cooking classes tailored for young carers, teaching essential life skills and building confidence.

The community cookery school offers classes that help people build confidence, learn new skills, and feel more empowered. With the support of a nutritionist, the space offers baby weaning courses to parents, combining theory and hands-on cooking of finger foods.

Health and well-being are a priority for the space. By partnering with Neighbourhood Friends, volunteers support people recently discharged from Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, helping them settle back into their homes. Their on-site gym is equipped with specialised equipment for wheelchair users and is open to referrals from local GPs, particularly for fall prevention work. After appointments, guests are often welcomed into the community cafe, bringing connection to their healthcare journey.

Westbank welcomed corporate volunteers from Kier, a provider of infrastructure services, construction, and property developments in the UK. They transformed the community garden into an accessible, colourful space. This space is also used by refugees and asylum seekers who volunteer by gardening in their community allotment and "cook and learn" sessions, where food becomes a shared language and a bridge to connection.

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You can find out more about Westbank Community Hub’s work here.