Our organisation
KINGSCARE is a Charity located in Kingsteignton and the wider Newton Abbot area in South Devon, originally formed in 1986.
Operating from an office next to Kingsteignton Medical Practice, we work alongside local health and social care providers including GPs, District Nurses, the
Older People’s Mental Health Team and Social Care Teams to support those in need in the wider community to stay independent, connected and happy.
These include services such as dementia support, social activities, community transport to medical appointments, a friendly ear, practical assistance and offering advice to make life a little bit easier and reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation within our community.
Our team
We are led by our Manager, Jayne Edwards, who joined the charity in 2025, bringing the skills she gained over a long career working in the voluntary sector and other areas to shape KINGSCARE’s future development and sustainability.
Jayne is supported in this by a dedicated and skilled team of 6, including 1 qualified Dementia Support staff, with a PG Dip Dementia; a former nurse of 30 years, a former Care Home Manager, a qualified counsellor, a former DWP employee with 15 years’ experience, a former Transport Manager and a Community Care worker who gained a first-class honours degree in Psychology last year.
The team work at our office and in the community, plus we are supported by a busy group of around 80 dedicated volunteers, all under the guidance of an experienced board of trustees.
Our activities
KINGSCARE Socials
Often including a slice of cake and a cup of tea, our ever-popular social calendar is full of weekly and monthly activities in Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot, designed to offer enough variety that there is always something appealing to look forward to.
Our Social Events include:
- Local lunch trips
- Wellbeing Walks
- Dementia Carers Support Group
- Time For You Carers Group
- Dementia Friendly Walking group
- Tai Chi
- Exercise sessions
- Games and Table Tennis
- KingsCare Chorus
Dementia Memory Cafés
We run three Memory Café sessions each month, one in Kingsteignton and two in Newton Abbot. These are very popular and offer fun cognitive stimulation therapies, refreshments and peer support, whilst helping to build social connections through companionship.
Importantly, they are a regular touchstone for anyone needing help. Contact with KINGSCARE is easily made at these sessions and tailored help can be personally delivered.
HOPE Courses “Help Overcoming Problems Effectively”
Held over six free weekly sessions funded by KINGSCARE and delivered in partnership with South Devon NHS providers, the HOPE course is designed to enable people living with long-term health conditions and helps them to ask the question “what’s important to me” with the aim of building confidence and resilience through positive strategies addressing emotional, psychological and practical wellbeing. This is partly achieved with peers in a supportive group setting.
Outcomes can include feeling more confident managing anxiety, stress, low mood and uncertainty, connecting with others facing similar experiences and feel less alone and improving your ability to handle challenges and enjoy daily life.
“You have really, really made a difference to my life. I have tried all sorts of medication, therapies and it was here all the time. Making the changes myself while having the support of all of you!” – KINGSCARE Client
Wellbeing Programme
This service is designed to support people with mental or physical difficulties and runs in partnership with Torbay and South Devon NHS.
In collaboration with NHS and Social Care, we create a personal plan for each person. Through a range of interventions, including befriending and improving social connections, our staff and volunteers help identify where small changes can make big differences to beneficiaries’ lives.
Our Wellbeing Coordinators can also be found at local events offering advice and signposting. We often go beyond our contracted responsibility to ensure our help is coordinated and effective. Our service is evaluated and reported on quarterly, with regular support for the Team.
Home From Hospital
Working with Newton Abbot, Torbay and Dawlish hospitals, we support people as they are discharged from hospital. We focus on those who would otherwise have little help at home and can arrange small services such as food shopping and making sure patients are settled at home with everything they need. This vital work begins in hospital and frees up busy ward staff while helping to alleviate bed blocking.
Community Patient Transport
KINGSCARE’s volunteer drivers offer a vital link helping people get well by making sure they can reach their appointments when they have no other means of transport.
Drivers also spend time waiting with patients, offering a friendly listening ear and making sure they get home safely and are settled again.
Making this service work effectively requires a lot of coordination, and it is only through the invaluable assistance from Volunteers that we can offer this lifeline to the community.
KINGSCARE Charity Shop
We operate a charity shop in Kingsteignton High Street. Our Charity Shop is a vibrant part of our community, raising vital funds to support the wide range of services and activities we provide. Every item donated, every purchase made, and every hour Volunteered helps us make a real difference in the lives of local people.
Our Charity Shop also allows our clients without internet access to contact our Volunteers, and see information about our activities advertised on our noticeboard and window displays. Several of our clients now volunteer in the Charity Shop.
“I want to volunteer with KINGSCARE because I am so thankful for what you have done for me and I want to make a difference too!” – KINGSCARE Volunteer
Meet The Team
Jayne Edwards – Manager
Jayne Edwards, former Manager of Moorland Community Caring joined us in 2025. Having a worked as a Manager for the Royal British Legion’s Welfare Service, the YMCA and before that served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service, followed by 11 years teaching marketing and communication part-time at a university, Jayne brings a wealth of experience to the Team. In her spare time Jayne enjoys going to watch live music and spending time with her friend’s horses, chickens and dogs, walking miles and mucking out the stables!
Shannon – Operations Lead
I enjoy overseeing the day to day running of the charity, ensuring services operate smoothly and efficiently. I enjoy looking at processes, governance and work closely with leadership to deliver organisational goals and high-quality services. I enjoy designing the Website, creating easy systems for the Team to follow, all of course to support our wonderful clients. My favourite part of working at KINGSCARE is seeing everybody smiling and enjoying their time at our Socials… and Jayne’s homemade cakes!
Tara – Volunteer Lead
Our volunteers are important to us and so, in 2026, Kingscare created the important role of Volunteer Lead. Listening to, supporting and thanking our volunteers is crucial to our success, as is recruiting new volunteers who wish to donate their time to the benefit of our community. In addition, I support the Wellbeing Team, and organise various social events. My favourite part of working at KINGSCARE is the Team. My role is very varied and I get to work in a supportive, friendly environment. I look forward to coming into work.
Trish – Wellbeing Coordinator
I really enjoy my role as Wellbeing Coordinator. I take referrals from many sources and then meet people to discuss their needs. Together we form a plan and set some goals which we believe will impact positively on their wellbeing. I get a lot of job satisfaction from helping people in the community.
Donald – Wellbeing Coordinator
My experience as a former nurse for 35 years – working across various hospitals and community settings – helps me greatly in my role as a Wellbeing Coordinator. I receive referrals from various sources and then meet up, discuss and begin to form a plan and set some goals. I get a lot of job satisfaction knowing that my interest, skills and experience impacts positively and makes a difference in someone’s life.
Briony – Mental Health Support Worker
Hello, I’m Briony and I am the Mental Health Worker for KingsCare. I have worked in mental health in different roles for over 25 years and love my job! I particularly enjoy facilitating groups and I feel privileged to be alongside people as they recover from difficult periods in their life. In my spare time I like to spend time outdoors and have a love for sea swimming and camping.
Chris – Transport Coordinator
I co-ordinate the Volunteer Community Transport Service at KINGSCARE, matching transport requests to volunteer drivers so that people can get to medical appointments and social activities. Our volunteer drivers are integral to the success of this project with so many people dependent upon their driving support. It’s much more than driving though, with a friendly chat and support before or after a medical appointment. I enjoy helping people and hearing their interesting stories.
Trustees
Our group of trustees bring a broad range of valuable work and life skills to KINGSCARE:
Nicola Barker (Chair) is the managing partner at Kingsteignton Medical Practice and has a working background in Adult Social Care and community provision around Torbay and South Devon. When not at work she’s usually travelling around France.
Rupert Holliday (Treasurer) worked as a Finance Director and since retiring can be found gardening or running the coast path around Devon. He is also involved with the local gig rowing club.
David Rollason is a local resident of many years standing and a member of Teignbridge District Council. He has previously been mayor of Kingsteignton. Since retiring from a long career in Devon Social Services and the NHS, David has been able to use his knowledge and skills to support KINGSCARE’s objectives and long-term sustainability.
Miriam Perrin was a teacher and Citizens Advice employee based in London. Since retiring she has been involved in a local Patient Participation Group and Friends Group of her local library. She brings a wealth of valuable experience to her role with KINGSCARE.
Volunteers
We have a group of over 80 volunteers, many of whom have been generously giving their time for several years. With such a diverse group to organise we have a Volunteer Coordinator among our staff to make best use of everyone’s talents.
“It means a lot to be part of KINGSCARE – attending The Avenue and the Walking Group. I have been part of Kingscare for over 9 years. I volunteer at KINGSCARE to give something back as they have helped me when my wife was very poorly. I can now help others and be a part of something special. I would not be here now without KINGSCARE.” – Dave, KINGSCARE Volunteer
Visit our website for more information about us, our Team and our Socials