As the days draw in and temperatures start to dip, Westbank’s warm space initiative is once again up and running at our Healthy Living Centre in Exminster, on the outskirts of Exeter. This year ‘Warmwell’ is in a room that’s in the process of being refurbished and kitted out with some extra appliances, most notably a large fridge generously donated by local business INTO University of Exeter LLP. 

The new fridge will be an integral part of our Community Larder, helping us combat food waste and food poverty and support the most vulnerable members of our community, many of whom continue to find the cost-of-living crisis extremely challenging.

At this time of year, those who live alone without friends and family nearby and those who don’t have a cosy home are particularly in our thoughts. That’s why we didn’t hesitate to open our doors again this winter to individuals and families in need of somewhere warm and welcoming.

We launched Warmwell in the autumn of 2022 as a place for the whole of our community, including our own volunteers and staff. The following winter it was relocated to a different room following the opening of our Community Cookery School in the space we had previously used. The current multipurpose room is being spruced up and is evolving into what we call our Community Hub. I look forward to sharing more details of that soon.

Warmwall at Westbank is open from 10 am to 8pm on Mondays, and 10am - 4 pm Tuesday -0 Friday. It’s somewhere anyone can come to spend time in a cosy, heated room with comfortable furniture and help themselves to a hot drink and a bowl of soup. We also have some games and books available. You’re welcome to sit quietly if that’s what you prefer or use the opportunity to connect with others for a chat over a cuppa in a warm, comfortable social space. Feel free to help yourself from our Community Fridge and Larder.

We also provide useful information about energy efficiency, general health and wellbeing and how to access supporting services. And for those who may be interested in getting involved in the local community, we provide information about volunteering opportunities within our charity.

We hope Warmwell will continue to make a big difference to individuals and families this winter and we look forward to welcoming as many people as possible.

If you would like to find out more about Warmwell at Westbank, please click here.

This article was first published in The Moorlander