Westbank’s gym-users benefit from world-class kit thanks to Exeter Chiefs Foundation

A generous donation from the Exeter Chiefs Foundation has enabled Westbank Community Health and Care to kit out its accessible gym in Exminster with a fantastic new piece of equipment, offering the same functionality for both disabled and able-bodied users.

The compact Equalizer 6000 is one of the most effective multi-gyms in the world. Designed by a paraplegic and fully adaptive for wheelchair users, it allows people of all abilities to perform an extensive range of exercises, from rowing and bench presses to vertical butterflies and lat pulldowns.

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation is a fund-raising organisation committed to helping other charities and supporting local communities through 'tangible’ investments that improve people’s lives. It donated almost £7,000 to enable Westbank Community Health and Care to buy the state-of-the-art multi-gym.

The team at Westbank has now welcomed two trustees from the Exeter Chiefs Foundation to the charity’s refurbished and recently relaunched gym, Gymclusive, to see and try out the impressive piece of kit. Westbank’s Gym Manager Natasha Willis showed them around the upgraded fitness facility and explained how to use the multi-gym.

Exeter Chiefs Foundation trustee David Bird said: “I’m really impressed with the quality and variety of the gym equipment at Westbank, and I think the new exercise station that we’ve helped to fund fits in really well with this inclusive gym. I had a go on it and enjoyed it! I could see myself using it day-to-day. I think it’s fantastic that the Exeter Chiefs Foundation has been able to fund this - we’re always looking to put something back into the community and support good causes.”

David added: “Westbank put together a really strong application asking us to fund this piece of capital equipment. It’s helping people in the community get fitter, which aligns with our aims and purpose. There’s also a nice synergy with Westbank being a health and wellbeing charity. That wasn’t lost on us.”

Fellow Exeter Chiefs Foundation trustee Keiron Northcott said: “I think the whole set-up here at Westbank has been an eye-opener. The facilities the charity offers are really impressive. It’s a quality gym and I’m very impressed with what we’ve seen.

“For us, it was an easy decision to help fund this. We like to dig deep into what’s been applied for, and we like to invest in something that’s going to be around for a while and make people’s lives better. I didn’t know a great deal about Westbank before, and this visit has pleasantly surprised us. You have to see it to believe it and appreciate all that Westbank is doing.”

Exeter Chiefs Foundation chairman Tony Rowe CBE said: “Westbank is one of nearly 120 charities that have benefited from grants totalling £3 million during the last five seasons. We are dedicated to supporting good causes in the wider Exeter area by utilising the rugby club’s place in the community to fund important projects like this one that will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Katie Elliott, Westbank’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing, said, “On behalf of everyone here at Westbank Community Health and Care, we would like to say a huge thank you to the Exeter Chiefs Foundation. For us, the Equalizer 6000 was the missing piece of the jigsaw to ensure we can support disabled people, those with long-term health conditions or injuries and those with reduced mobility and help them to live fulfilled, healthier, happier lives for longer.”

To find out more, go to www.westbank.org.uk