CoLab

CoLab CoLab is a partnership project in the heart of Exeter, offering a comprehensive wellbeing and support service to local residents.

Social Innovation through Partnership

Colab Exeter is an integrated wellbeing and innovation hub that works in collaboration with agencies across sectors to strengthen local services and achieve positive whole community outcomes around homelessness, addiction, (re)offending, and health inequality. Collectively, our work focuses on the following four themes:

RECOVERY
Working towards sustainable, whole-person recovery from drug or alcohol dependence, or from mental ill-health

BELONGING
Supporting the homeless and vulnerably housed towards affordable and sustainable housing solutions and reconnecting people who have become socially isolated

REHABILITATION
Promoting rehabilitation into the community for those on the justice pathway

WELLBEING
Promoting health and wellbeing as a tool for informing better lifestyle choices, and improving individual resilience and recovery

✨Did you know CoLab is a charity?✨We’re not just a building. We’re a community, a network, and a place where people come...
05/09/2026

✨Did you know CoLab is a charity?✨

We’re not just a building. We’re a community, a network, and a place where people come together to tackle some of Exeter’s toughest challenges.

As a charity, we’re constantly looking for multiple funding streams to keep our projects going, develop new ideas, and most importantly, support the people and communities we work alongside.

Every donation helps us keep doing what we do.

This International Day of Charity, if you believe in a more connected, compassionate Exeter, you can help us make it happen. 💙

👉 Donate to CoLab via JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/colabexeter

Together, we can change what’s possible and turn hope into action!

✨National Food Bank Day✨The national food bank networks shows that 72% of people needing emergency food vouchers simply ...
04/09/2026

✨National Food Bank Day✨

The national food bank networks shows that 72% of people needing emergency food vouchers simply cannot cover basic living costs.

At CoLab, we work directly with to issue emergency food vouchers and provide ongoing support to help people through tough times.

How you can help today:
🛒 Donate a few items from their urgent needs list on your next shop.
💶 Make a small cash donation online.
📣 Share this post to help someone in need find support.

If you need a referral or support, visit us at CoLab or send us a message. We are here for you. ✨

02/09/2026

✨CoLab Conversations ✨

"Inequality in access, and that then causes an inequality in outcome."

For people with complex and overlapping needs, accessing support can be difficult enough.
But when different services aren't connected or coordinated around the individual, those barriers can become even greater.

Joined-up support means looking at the whole person, not expecting them to navigate a complicated system alone.

Listen to Trustees Julie Dent OBE and Anthony Farnsworth’s full episode here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3mvf3-vdis

For our 10-year anniversary, we asked visitors and staff:“What does CoLab mean to you?”We didn't want those answers sitt...
28/08/2026

For our 10-year anniversary, we asked visitors and staff:
“What does CoLab mean to you?”

We didn't want those answers sitting in a notebook or hidden away.

We wanted them where people could see them.

So we've created a new display on the Welcome Team desk for people when they fist walk in to CoLab, celebrating a few the words, experiences and voices of the people who make CoLab what it is.

Because CoLab isn't just the building, the services or the staff.
It's the people who walk through our doors.✨

26/08/2026

✨CoLab Conversations✨

"We love a chat."

At CoLab, some of our best ideas and partnerships start with a conversation.
We're always keen to collaborate, whether that's with students, academics, local organisations, national partners or simply people who are curious about the work we do.

If you're exploring a new idea, trying to answer a difficult question or looking for opportunities to work together, we'd love to hear from you.
Because collaboration starts with being curious, asking questions and having a chat.

Listen to Head of Service Research and Impact, Robin Jakob's full episode here - https://lnkd.in/eBWUeNXg

✨Tomorrow is Women's Equality Day✨Our Brave Spaces Project Lead, Emily asked staff "What would an equal world for women ...
25/08/2026

✨Tomorrow is Women's Equality Day✨

Our Brave Spaces Project Lead, Emily asked staff "What would an equal world for women look like?"

These are some of the CoLab voices and opinions.

What would an equal world look like for you? 😊

☀️ Feel Good Friday ☀️Before this week comes to an end, take a moment to celebrate your small wins.Perhaps you:Got out o...
21/08/2026

☀️ Feel Good Friday ☀️

Before this week comes to an end, take a moment to celebrate your small wins.

Perhaps you:
Got out of bed when it felt difficult.
Took a proper lunch break.
Went for a walk.
Asked for help.
Simply got through the week.

Not every achievement has to be a big one. Small wins are still wins. ✨

What's brought you a little joy this week? ☀️

19/08/2026

✨CoLab Conversations✨

"Help us help them."

Behind every piece of research is a real person's experience.

At CoLab, we believe lived experience is one of the most powerful tools we have for creating meaningful change. When people share their stories, they help us understand what's working, what isn't, and where systems need to improve.

Research isn't just about collecting data, it's about listening, learning and using evidence to advocate for better support and more compassionate systems.

Listen to Head of Service Research and Impact, Robin Jakob's full episode here - https://lnkd.in/eBWUeNXg

✨ What does… mean? ✨Some words are used every day, but what do they actually mean?We're starting a new monthly series ex...
17/08/2026

✨ What does… mean? ✨

Some words are used every day, but what do they actually mean?

We're starting a new monthly series exploring some of the words and ideas that matter to us at CoLab, and what they can look like in real life.

🌿 First up: Wellbeing

Wellbeing is more than physical health.
It's about our mental health.
Our relationships.
Feeling safe and connected.
Having a sense of purpose.
Having things in our lives that matter to us.

And it looks different for everyone.

What does wellbeing mean to you? 💜

12/08/2026

✨CoLab Conversations✨

"Access to public toilets impacts lots of communities."

It's something many of us take for granted, but access to safe, free public toilets can make a real difference to people's daily lives.

From people experiencing homelessness to parents with young children and those with health conditions or disabilities, accessible facilities matter.

When communities repeatedly tell us what matters to them, we have a responsibility to listen.

Listen to Head of Service Research and Impact, Robin Jakob's full episode here - https://lnkd.in/eBWUeNXg

Address

Wat Tyler House, King William Street
Exeter
EX46PD

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 1pm
2pm - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 1pm
Wednesday 10am - 1pm
Thursday 10am - 1pm
Friday 10am - 1pm

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