charity

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 festive season.

Katie Elliott, Westbank’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing explains why, “Every donation we receive, however large or small, makes a real difference to our ability to provide...

Sandford Orchards Partners with Wooden Spoon Charity

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 12/07/2023 - 8:05pm

Award-winning cider maker, Sandford Orchards, is relaunching its rugby charity cider, Rib Tickler, with donations from its sale going to Wooden Spoon, a charity whose aim is to positively transform the lives of vulnerable children and young people through the power of rugby.

Chief Cider Maker, Barny Butterfield, explains: “Rib Tickler began life as a collaboration between Sandford Orchards and the Rugby Players Association to encourage professional rugby players to gain experience outside of sport. Working with a group from the Exeter Chiefs, which included international players...

A generous gift results in the 6,000th bike donated to Exeter Cycling charity

Exeter-based charity ‘Ride On Cycling for All’, is delighted to be gifted a Voodoo Mountain bike making it the 6000th bike donated since the charity was formed.

Located on Exeter Quay, ‘Ride On’ was established in 2011 by bike ability instructor, Martyn Laxton. Working at a school in Teignmouth at the time he was concerned that many of the pupils either didn't have bikes, or they were of very poor quality. Martyn persuaded some friends to donate bikes and to help do them up and it proved so successful that he felt it would be a great idea for a social enterprise. Starting the...

Exeter food charity benefitting from Community Lottery ticket sales

A charity that helps distribute food to vulnerable people in Exeter is just one of around 100 good causes that are currently benefitting from the Exeter Community Lottery.

Exeter Food Action recently signed up to the fundraising lottery and hopes ticket sales will help them continue to support those in need across the city.

When people play the weekly lottery they have a chance to choose which good cause to support. Fifty pence in every pound then goes to that cause, with 10p going towards the Exeter Central Fund. The rest of the money pays for prizes and the...

staff who raised money for charity standing in front of a christmas tree

Bishop Fleming employees raise over £4,500 for Devon charity

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 11/26/2023 - 10:48pm

Employees at the Exeter and Torquay offices of leading audit, accountancy, tax and advisory firm Bishop Fleming have raised £4,505 for a Devon-based charity.

Earlier this year the two offices announced their partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust as their chosen charity of the year.

The firm, which delivers accounting, tax and advisory services to businesses, academies and charities and private wealth advice to individuals, held a charity quiz at Sandy Park on 23 November to support the work of the Devon-based charity.

The quiz was hosted by SpeedQuizzing and...

Homeless man with dog

"They came along and lifted me up". St Petrock’s Christmas Appeal 2023 launches

Four people who are rebuilding their lives after being homeless feature in a moving Exeter homelessness charity’s Christmas fundraising campaign.

The two-minute film focuses on the question of how it feels to be homeless, especially at Christmas. “They came along and lifted me up” is one of the many moving statements made in the video, that was launched across social and traditional media on Thursday morning (23 November).

The numbers of people sleeping rough in Exeter remain critically high

Alfie, who lived on the streets for eight years after growing up in the...

Celebrating the culinary achievement of newbie cooks at the charity's 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 how to cook simple, nutritious, affordable meals.

A well-attended launch party allowed guests, including sponsors, to see the bespoke teaching kitchen in use. The event marked the completion...

woman wearing Santa hat and orange T-shirt with gifts standing in front of a Christmas tree

Exeter Community Initiatives and Exeter City Football Club Supporters’ Trust launch Secret Santa appeal

Exeter Community Initiatives (ECI) and Exeter City Football Club Supporters’ Trust (ECFCST), have joined forces to launch a Secret Santa appeal.

The soaring cost-of-living has cast a shadow over many households this year, leaving families and individuals grappling with financial strains this Christmas.

To become a Secret Santa, simply donate £5, £10 or even £20 and ECI will send a Christmas gift of equal value to an individual or family.

Teresa Pollard, Exeter Community Initiatives’ Fundraising Manager, said: “In the spirit of the season, ECI and our partners,...

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 disability, mental health or substance misuse problem.

Over the last two and a half decades, Westbank’s Devon Carers has grown to be one of the largest charitable organisations in the UK...

Free Information Fair for Devon’s Unpaid Carers on Carers’ Rights Day

Event Date: 
23/11/2023 - 10:00am to 4:00pm
Venue: 
Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter

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.

Westbank’s 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...

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