A new partnership for Zest Deal
Our Zest Deal group has found a new home in Walmer Castle and Gardens from April 2025 thanks to a new partnership with English Heritage.
We’ve had a wonderful time at the Astor Theatre, which has been the welcoming home for Zest Deal since 2023. Spring 2025 brings a new relationship between English Heritage and Bright Shadow, giving us a unique opportunity to partner with a beloved local heritage site.
English Heritage’s team have been working with us to explore making their heritage sites welcoming to people living with dementia, and will be opening up their Education Centre for our regular Zest sessions on Thursday mornings. This will offer a safe, accessible and inclusive environment, surrounded by the award-winning heritage gardens, to inspire creative sessions delivered by our professional artists.
We’ve been working with their castle teams to provide enhanced dementia awareness information, and to get to know their existing volunteer teams to see what work we might be able to do together. We’re really pleased English Heritage are partnering with us and supporting our Deal Zest group, and looking forward to seeing how our work together can continue to ensure local people living with dementia have access to a sustainable creative community of support in prominent local locations.
Hannah West, Community Engagement Coordinator, South Territory at English Heritage, says I’m delighted that English Heritage has been able to partner with Bright Shadow, and I look forward to watching this collaboration flourish.”
Clare Thomas, Chief Executive and Creative Director at Bright Shadow, says “I would like to thank the whole English Heritage team for their vision and for all the really kind practical support as well as the generosity of resources. I am truly excited about the possibility for wider learning and connection from this opportunity!”
Gill Ashington, Trustee of Bright Shadow and Deal resident said “I believe when the community works together, they can do great things for everyone who lives within it.
People living with dementia are one of the groups in society who are easily dismissed, and written off. I think it’s important for everyone to feel welcome, and having Zest in an environment such as Walmer Castle and its grounds reflects that we are valued as people”