Your local charity since 1987
Helping people live independently and stay connected
Totnes Caring offers wellbeing support to enable people to live independently, have a better life and be connected to their local community.
Totnes Caring offers wellbeing support to enable people to live independently, have a better life and be connected to their local community.
We are a local charity dedicated to helping people live independently and stay connected, thereby feeling part of their community. Over the years, we've supported thousands of local residents to build confidence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging. As well as helping individuals navigate the health and social care pathways.
Our committed staff and amazing volunteers provide a wide range of services for older people in Totnes and nearby villages through community activities, dementia support, home help, transport, befriending, shopping and much more. We also offer link worker support across the two primary care networks covering Totnes, south Dartmoor and south hams.
Whether you need help yourself or are enquiring on behalf of a loved one, getting support from Totnes Caring is straightforward.
Email info@totnescaring.org.uk or call us on 01803 865684. For link workers please contact your GP directly for a referral.
→We'll discuss your needs and explain which of our services would be most helpful for your situation.
→We'll match you with the right support — whether that's a home help, volunteer driver, or group activity.
→Our team stays in touch to make sure you're getting what you need. Services can be adjusted as your needs change.
Our main services are available to people living in Totnes and surrounding areas including Ashprington, Berry Pomeroy, Dartington, Harberton, Staverton, Stoke Gabriel and more. You must be registered with the Leatside or Catherine House GP surgeries. For link worker connections please contact your GP directly for a referral.
Supporting individuals and their families in Totnes and surrounding parishes with practical help, companionship and human connection. Reducing loneliness, isolation and increasing wellbeing.
Our Home Help service assists older people to live independently at home for as long as possible. We provide regular, timed visits from insured, trained and DBS-checked home helps who can assist with a wide range of daily tasks.
Services include household chores such as cleaning and laundry, help with paperwork and correspondence, companionship, shopping and errands. Each visit is tailored to the individual's needs, and our home helps build genuine relationships with the people they support.
Our service operates between 9am and 5pm on weekdays, making it ideal for those who need reliable, consistent support during the day.
80+ clients currently supported across Totnes and surrounding areas with insured, trained, DBS-checked home helps
Being able to get out and about is vital for staying healthy and connected. Our transport service is designed for older people who are frail or have mobility or health conditions that make other forms of transport inaccessible.
We provide door-to-door journeys to health appointments — hospitals, GP surgeries, dentists, opticians — as well as Totnes Caring social activities. Our volunteer drivers use their own cars, the Totnes Caring minibus, or our Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV).
From Totnes Town — add £2 from surrounding areas. Totnes Caring receives no direct funding for journeys and relies on your donation.
| Destination | Donation |
|---|---|
| Totnes | £8 |
| Paignton | £17 |
| Torbay / Ashburton / Newton Abbot | £18 |
| Kingsbridge / Dartmouth / Teignmouth | £23 |
| Derriford | £33 |
| RD&E Exeter | £36 |
Booking: Please give a minimum of 48 hours' notice where possible. Contact our transport coordinator or call 01803 865684.
The sooner you book, the more likely we can find a driver. We always do our best, but sometimes demand is high as our drivers are volunteers.
Living with dementia affects the whole family. Our dedicated Dementia Services Coordinator provides information, advice and emotional support to help you navigate each stage of the journey.
We run a weekly Memory Café — a welcoming gathering where people with memory problems and their carers can meet, chat, share experiences and take part in enjoyable, dementia-friendly activities in a safe and supportive setting.
We also offer monthly support groups for family carers, and a dedicated group for those who have recently stopped caring — whether because the person they cared for has passed away or gone into residential care.
Many who use our dementia services also benefit from our transport, home help and lunch club services — we can help connect you with the right support.
Our Memory Café provides a warm, welcoming space for people with memory problems and their carers
Many things affect your health — feeling isolated, work pressures, money worries, housing problems, or managing long-term conditions. Sometimes you just need a bit of help to work out what support is available.
Our Wellbeing Team includes Social Prescribing Link Workers, a Health and Wellbeing Coach, a Wellbeing Coordinator, a Home from Hospital worker, and a Dementia Services Coordinator. They work with people aged 18+ registered at GP surgeries across Totnes, south Dartmoor and south hams.
Your link worker will listen, help you identify what matters most, create a personalised plan, and connect you with local support — from social groups and counselling to employment advice, benefits support, arts activities and healthy lifestyle programmes.
Men's Monday Morning Coffee Club at Stacked Totnes with Health Coach Jake — a safe space for men to come together and talk. Contact 07936 487559
Call 01803 865684 or ask your GP surgery to make a referral on your behalf.
Social isolation is one of the biggest challenges facing older people. Our Lunch Club brings people together encouraging social interaction over a meal, reducing loneliness in a welcoming atmosphere where friendships can flourish.
The club takes place at Quayside Guinness Trust on Steamer Quay Road every Monday, starting from 12:15pm and finishing at approximately 1:45pm. Volunteers welcome attendees at the door, help them to their seats, assist with menu orders, and facilitate an open, friendly and supportive atmosphere — particularly for those who seem more isolated or are attending for the first time.
For those who find it difficult to get out to the shops, our Shopping Delivery service provides a lifeline. Dedicated volunteer shoppers purchase and deliver weekly shopping directly to clients' homes, ensuring nobody goes without the essentials they need. This can be a regular weekly arrangement or a one-off trip — for example, stocking up on basic foods following discharge from hospital. There is a suggested donation of £5 per shop.
Join our community — from weekly groups to annual fundraising adventures.
Activities, refreshments and social time for people with memory problems and their carers.
Social meal at Quayside Guinness Trust, Steamer Quay Road. All welcome.
A safe space for men to talk without judgement, with Health Coach Jake at Stacked Totnes.
Annual run organised by the Teignbridge Trotters in support of Totnes Caring.
Night trek up Wales' highest peak. Registration £45, min. fundraising £320.
UK extreme trekking (11–13 Sep) or a 335-mile cycle to Amsterdam (16–20 Sep).
There are many ways you can help raise funds — from the comfort of your armchair to taking on an adventurous physical challenge.
Through our alliance with Global Adventure Challenges, we have exciting options for adventurous fundraisers:
A great starter challenge. Registration £45, minimum fundraising £320 or self-fund at £160.
For those who really want to push themselves. Registration £95, minimum fundraising £830 or self-fund at £415.
335 miles in 4 days for cycling enthusiasts. Registration £139, minimum sponsorship £2,200 or self-fund at £1,100.
Totnes 10k and Fun Run — 2nd August 2026: Organised by the Teignbridge Trotters, long-time supporters of Totnes Caring. Visit the Teignbridge Trotters website for details and to enter.
We are here to help and support you throughout the fundraising process. Contact Caroline.godwin@totnescaring.org.uk to discuss your ideas.
Simple and secure via Just Giving. Totnes Caring is also on Just Giving for your own fundraising campaigns.
Set up a regular Standing Order for monthly, quarterly or annual donations. If you're a taxpayer, please Gift Aid it so we can reclaim the tax.
Quarterly prizes plus the chance to win the annual prize, all while supporting Totnes Caring.
Raise free donations when you shop online with 7,000+ brands including eBay, Argos, John Lewis and M&S. Join free — no cost to you.
Play the SeaMoor Lotto and select Totnes Caring as your charity. £25,000 jackpot on offer.
Text CARING to: 70331 (£3), 70970 (£5), or 70191 (£10). Costs your donation plus standard network charge.
Legacies are a valued and vital source of income. If you'd like to remember us in your will, please contact us to discuss.
Donate broken jewellery, watches and foreign banknotes via Recycling for Good Causes. Send used stamps to: Totnes Caring, PO Box 16992, Sutton Coldfield B73 9YA.
Cash or cheque donations: Cheques payable to 'Totnes Caring Ltd' can be sent to Follaton House, Plymouth Rd, TQ9 5NE. Visit the office weekdays 9am–3:30pm (10:30am on Tuesdays). Call 01803 865 684 when you arrive.
Local businesses: Join our Business Club from just £99 per year to show your support for the community.
Totnes Caring is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of all individuals who use its services. Safeguarding refers to the measures taken to protect people from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm, particularly those who may be vulnerable due to age, disability, illness, or other circumstances.
We recognise our responsibility to promote safety and welfare across all our services and interactions. This includes working collaboratively with other agencies and professionals to ensure a consistent and effective approach to safeguarding.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
CEO, Totnes Caring
Responsible for overseeing all safeguarding practices across the charity.
Jasmine is responsible for overseeing safeguarding practices and ensuring that any concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately.
If you have any safeguarding concerns or disclosures, please report them to Jasmine immediately so that appropriate action can be taken.
We simply could not do what we do without our amazing volunteers. Whatever time you can offer, it truly makes a difference.
Be matched with a client to build confidence through companionship and listening.
Help run and support community groups, social events and wellbeing activities.
Drive clients to appointments and activities. Flexible hours, mileage at 45p/mile.
Support our fundraising events and social activities throughout the year.
Create welcoming spaces for people living with dementia and their carers.
Help with admin, phones and day-to-day support at our Follaton House office.
Deliver weekly shopping to clients who find it difficult to get to the shops.
Whether you need support, want to volunteer, or have a question — we'd love to hear from you.
Totnes Caring, Follaton House
Follaton, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5NE