About us

St Elizabeth Hospice has been developing Zest since 2015, working closely with children’s hospice services to ensure young adults have a smooth transition into adult care.

Zest supports young adults aged 14 and upwards with progressive and incurable illnesses to ensure that they get the specialist care, tailored treatment and services they need to be able to enjoy life to the full.

Through this specialist care, young adults with challenging conditions are able to fulfil their aspirations, whether this is to manage their symptoms, access opportunities in the community and reduce loneliness by enabling them to meet and have fun with friends.

Zest is also about engaging with young adults through volunteering and fundraising through our shops and unique events - including fashion shows, auctions and attending festivals, such as Latitude.

Find out more on the service and Zest young adults here.

Volunteer at Zest stores in Ipswich & Colchester

Love fashion? Classic vinyl? Eco-friendly and vintage finds? Volunteer with us at our Zest stores in Ipswich and Colchester.

Zest wants to reinvent the traditional charity shop; with our two stores in Ipswich and Colchester, you'll find a collection of stylish clothing from some of your favourite brands and designers alongside trendy homeware, gifts and accessories.

We have a wide variety of roles, from retail assistants to supporting us at events, that could really make a difference to young adults accessing Zest care in Suffolk.

You'll make friends and gain valuable experience for your CV.

Whether it is just 1 hour a week or a whole day, you can get involved.

Zest Ipswich is based on Queen’s Street in the town centre. Zest Colchester is located on St Nicholas Passage.

Click here to find out more.

Volunteer for Zest service

There are opportunities for you to work with Zest young adults at St Elizabeth Hospice, when services resume following the pandemic. You can help with activities for the young adults, including days out, arts, crafts, cooking and sports games. Keep an eye on our hospice vacancy page for hospice-based volunteer opportunities.

Fundraise for Zest

There are various ways that you can help fundraise for Zest. Attending one of our events and asking your friends or family to sponsor you is a great way to do something fun and new, whilst raising money for our Zest young adult service.

Alternatively, you could host your own event like a bake sale, charity music night or a clothes swap. Be as creative as you want.

Previous fundraising events have included Ed Sheeran auctions, fitness challenges, Bubble Rush, blogger parties and a pop up shop at Latitude Festival. Find out more here.

Donate items & shop with us

You can donate items to Zest stores to help raise money for our young adult service.

We accept the following items at our Zest stores:

• Clothing and shoes
• Books and games
• CDs and vinyl
• Prints
• Bags and belts

Anything that you no longer want or need, can be donated to help us raise funds for the young adults we care for.

At our stores, you'll find a collection of stylish second-hand clothing from some of your favourite brands and designers alongside trendy homeware, gifts and accessories. We are also committed to being eco-friendly and sustainable.

At our Ipswich store, we stock Fill - selling cleaning products which are vegan, cruelty free, have no harsh chemicals and are biodegradable. Customers can either buy a Fill glass bottle or bring their own container to fill up with laundry and household cleaning products.

We have two stores located in Ipswich, on Queen St, and Colchester, on St Nicholas Passage, open Monday to Saturday, 9am-5pm. As well as in store, you can shop online via our Depop store.