About my role at Westbank

I am proud to be the founder of Westbank League of Friends, the charity now known as Westbank Community Health and Care. In 1986, I attended a public meeting at a local GP surgery, where the primary care team said there was a need for more support in the Devon communities of Exminster, Starcross, and Kenton. Westbank League of Friends initially covered these three villages and their surrounds on the west bank of the River Exe, hence its name. I set up the charity from my kitchen table in Kenton to help local people by providing services that filled the gaps in health and social care provision.

My stand-out career moments

Westbank started with a handful of experienced trustees and 25 volunteers and grew to offer a broad range of community-led services across Devon, responding to the needs of people in the community. I had seen a friend of my mum’s, who was terminally ill with cancer, dying at home with very little support, and I felt strongly that small acts of neighbourly support can make a big difference - having a lift to the doctor’s, someone to collect your prescription, someone to keep you company or give your carer a break. 

One of the first people we looked after was the village postmistress, who lived alone and was terminally ill. A rota of people helped care for her, and it was such a visible example of what volunteers could achieve. We also worked closely with statutory services. Securing sustainable funding was key to the charity’s success. It was a privilege to work with Westbank because I met so many wonderful people, and it became an award-winning ‘beacon charity’, inspiring similar organisations the length and breadth of the country and gaining widespread recognition, including at ministerial level. We banged the drum for local communities.

My values

I think that when people genuinely feel that they’re making a contribution in their own community, and can see the direct benefit, they know they are making a difference. From the outset, preventative healthcare was a priority for me, and the composition of the Board of Trustees demonstrated the importance I placed on diversity and inclusivity; we listened to people and involved them in helping us to deliver vital services. 

Personal interests

I still live in Kenton. I am married with a son and a daughter and have three grandchildren whom I love spending time with.