Elizabeth from Exeter has been attending community and social activities at The Community Hub at Westbank for a number of years, initially participating in a Memory Café, before joining both the Ladies Hobbies and Afternoon Tea Group, as well as a weekly Craft Group.

Elizabeth lives alone after she was widowed 7 years ago and explains how attending community and social groups at Westbank’s Healthy Living Centre helps her to feel less lonely and isolated.  This is especially important to her, not least following the pandemic, when she was unable to get out and about for very long periods.

At the Ladies Hobbies and Afternoon Tea group, Elizabeth likes to both watch and play boardgames with the other ladies and particularly enjoys math’s-based games.

She also very much enjoys attending the weekly Craft Group and, over time has forged friendships with many of the other ladies who attend, helping to support another regular attendee with limited mobility, something she herself finds most beneficial and is keen to do more often.

Elizabeth explains that, as she has been attending community and social activities at Westbank’s Healthy Living Centre for some time, she feels a sense of familiarity with both staff and volunteers and is very comfortable coming along, despite not feeling confident about doing anything elsewhere.  She goes on to say how she very much enjoys the company at the groups she attends and that often coming to Westbank might be the only time she talks to people during the week.

Elizabeth is supported by Westbank’s Transport Services Team, who bring her to the Healthy Living Centre three times a week, enabling her to access activities to support her wellbeing, which she may otherwise be unable to attend.

Elizabeth describes the impact of her attending the various community and social activities at Westbank’s Healthy Living Centre: “The difference it makes having someone to talk to about a problem is measurable. I go home feeling like a different person, as it usually ends up in giggles!”