Zest Days, X-Change & Family Drop-In

Zest offers a variety of social sessions and support for young adults, and their families, living with incurable illness throughout the week.

Make a Referral Call Zest: 01473 707032 Zest Voices

Zest Days

Zest Days take place every Friday at St Elizabeth Hospice’s Community Care Unit from 10am-4pm.

Zest Days are dedicated to Zest young adults aged 18 upwards, offering nurse-led specialist day service provision.

There are planned and spontaneous inclusive activities on Zest Days. In the past, we have had visits from dog companies, Ipswich Town Football Club, Suffolk Police, professional musicians and themed days to tie in with awareness weeks and national events.

Attendance options include group support, bringing your own carer or provision of a one to one Zest Care Assistant. You can attend weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

Zest X-Change

Zest X-Change enables young adults to experience some independence as their families and carers leave them in the hands of capable staff and volunteers to enjoy playing inclusive sports, joining in with creative and sensory activities, music or playing quizzes and games.

X-Change is available for young adults aged 14 upwards to support the transition from children’s services. Staffing at X-Change is shared between Zest staff, East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and Ipswich Hospital for a co-ordinated approach to support patients and families.

The groups are family and socially orientated with fun, engaging activities in which everyone can take part, in a supportive environment. Clinical care is also provided if required.

Zest X-Change Locations:

Ipswich

In Ipswich, X-Change is on the first Tuesday of every month, from 4.30pm-7.30pm at St Elizabeth Hospice’s Community Care Unit.

Parent peer support is available from 6.15pm-7.15pm for parents and carers to attend so they can discuss issues, offer advice and support each other.

It is also a forum for them to share their thoughts on how we can improve the service for young people.

Colchester

In Colchester, X-Change occurs one Wednesday per month, from 4.30pm-7.30pm at St Helena Hospice on Myland Hall Close.

2024 Dates:

17 Jan • 21 Feb • 20 Mar • 17 Apr • 15 May • 19 Jun • 17 Jul • 21 Aug • 18 Sep • 16 Oct • 20 Nov • 18 Dec

Zest Family Drop-In

Zest is here to support the whole family.

Drop-in days are open to families to see what Zest is all about and to share quality time together. You can stay for as long as you wish.

If you are new to Zest, our team can arrange for you to have a tour and meet other families too.

The drop-in sessions are staffed by the Zest team with our colleagues from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

Locations:

Ipswich & Suffolk

Zest Family Drop-In happens one Saturday per month, from 2pm-4.30pm, at St Elizabeth Hospice’s Community Care Unit on Foxhall Road in Ipswich.

Here are our 2024 dates:

20 Jan • 17 Feb • 23 Mar • 27 Apr • 25 May • 22 Jun • 20 Jul • 31 Aug • 28 Sep • 26 Oct • 16 Nov • 21 Dec

Everyone in the family is welcome to come along for as long as they wish. If you are new to Zest, our team can arrange for you to have a tour and meet other families too.

We have relaxing complementary therapy available for family members to access throughout the afternoon.

Great Yarmouth & Waveney

We are working together with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and other adult hospices in Norfolk to provide a monthly family drop-in that rotates around Norfolk.

Zest is currently hosting sessions at the Louise Hamilton Centre in Great Yarmouth.

The drop-in aims to support young adults transitioning from children’s services, as well as enabling a provision for young adults and their families.

It will also provide an opportunity for people to help shape the future of support for families in Norfolk as we are keen to listen, learn and feed back to commissioners.

Click here to find out more on EACH’s website