What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub

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Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub

Welcome to the Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub at the University of Essex. On this page we will share future events as well as the services we offer.

The Hub is built on three pillars: clinical research, workforce development and meeting community needs.

26/02/2026

Living with a Brain Injury?
The University of Essex is supporting a new research study, and you’re invited to take part!

Try Recallify – an innovative new app designed to support recovery after an acquired brain injury (ABI). Your participation will help shape the future of rehabilitation tools.

Why take part?
Test a new rehabilitation tool
Contribute to research that helps others

Who can join?
Adults aged 18+
At least 3 months post–ABI (e.g., stroke, brain injury)
Use a smartphone or willing to try
Able to give informed consent

What’s involved?
8 weeks of participation
Short questionnaires and interviews
Using the Recallify app with coaching & support

Benefits
Improve confidence in daily tasks
Help shape future rehabilitation tools
Receive £75 for your time

Interested? Email: [email protected]

18/02/2026

We love sharing the fantastic feedback our students receive!

Sarah, one of our Occupational Therapists, shared some brilliant feedback about Ari in our first Young Onset Dementia Group.

Great work, Ari!

Our Young Onset Dementia Group provides a warm, supportive space to explore the unique challenges brought on by Young Onset Dementia, alongside others who truly understand. Alongside the main group, we also offer a dedicated space for family members, partners, and friends to access support.

To find out more about the service or to make a referral, head to our website: https://www.essex.ac.uk/health-wellbeing-and-care-hub/our-services/young-onset-dementia-group

06/02/2026

Our physiotherapy students have had another busy week!

Ari and Fin have been working with a range of service users, including a lady recovering from a stroke, a lady with MS experiencing vestibular and balance challenges, and a lady aiming to lose weight before surgery.

Using strong clinical reasoning and on-the-spot knowledge, the students tailored each session to meet the individual needs of the people they were supporting. Through building positive relationships, Ari and Fin created a fun and comfortable environment that helped each service user work towards their personal goals.

02/02/2026

Are you a registered with a GP in Essex and keen to have a free health check? If yes, contact the Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub to book your appointment today at [email protected].

Please check eligibility criteria before booking (detailed below).

The clinic is running Wednesday 29 October from 9:30am-4pm. Checks take around 30 minutes.

NHS Health Check Criteria
• Aged between 40-74 years?
• Registered with an Essex GP or live in Essex?
• Not taking Blood Pressure or Cholesterol tablets (Statins)?
• Not known to have Diabetes?
• Never suffered a Stroke?
• Never suffered a Heart Attack? (M.I)
• Not diagnosed with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) or Heart Failure?
• Not diagnosed with Peripheral Arterial Disease? (PAD)
• Not diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease? (CKD)
• Not diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation? (AF)
• Not had an NHS Health Check in the last 5 years?

30/01/2026

New Service Launching: Young Onset Dementia Group

We’re excited to introduce a brand new service for adults under 65 diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia who would benefit from tailored support, understanding, and connection. A partner, friend, or family member is very welcome to attend.

Living with Young Onset Dementia can bring unique challenges around work, family life, identity, and independence. Our group offers a warm, supportive space to explore these experiences with others who truly understand.

What the group offers:
• Connect with peers in a friendly, relaxed environment
• Learn practical strategies for memory, communication and day to day living
• Take part in gentle, supported movement to improve strength, mobility, and wellbeing
• Build confidence through meaningful and enjoyable activities
• Access information and guidance tailored specifically to younger people with dementia

Support for family and friends:
Alongside the main group, partners, family members, and friends can access a separate supported space where they can:
• Explore how they’re feeling
• Share experiences with others in similar situations
• Build their own support network
• Receive information and support to help them in their caring role

Sessions are delivered by health and social care students under the supervision of our registered clinical team, ensuring a safe, person centred and empowering experience.

Whether your diagnosis is recent or you’ve been living with Young Onset Dementia for some time, you are warmly welcomed.

For more information and to make a referral head to our website, here: https://www.essex.ac.uk/health-wellbeing-and-care-hub/our-services/young-onset-dementia-group

29/01/2026

Grief can feel overwhelming, isolating, and unpredictable.

Find Your Way: Navigating Grief offers a gentle, supportive space to explore your experience alongside others who understand.

This six week course is for adults who have experienced loss or bereavement and would benefit from guided support in a small, compassionate group.

The programme is delivered by the Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub clinical team, with support from student healthcare staff.
Across the sessions, we explore:
• Understanding the grieving process
• Emotional responses to loss
• Coping strategies and self care
• How grief affects relationships
• Adjusting to life after loss
• Building resilience and finding meaning

Each session includes discussion, optional activities, and time for reflection in a safe, non judgemental environment.

The group is starting on Wednesday 25th February, 1:00pm – 2:30pm.

For more information and to make a referral head to our website: https://www.essex.ac.uk/health-wellbeing-and-care-hub/our-services/navigating-grief

28/01/2026

Wonderful feedback for our placement students!

Steph, our HWCH Nurse, shared fantastic comments about placement student Ari and her brilliant planning and leadership during a recent Move and Meet session.

Well done, Ari!

At the Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub, Move and Meet is a friendly, supportive group that helps people stay active and connected — and our students play a huge part in making that happen.

Want to join us? Complete a referral form on our website and send it to [email protected].

20/01/2026

Introducing our new service: Music Mirrors!
A unique and meaningful way to help individuals living with dementia capture and preserve their life story through music.

Music Mirrors is an online database that holds personal memories, stories, and musical cues. These can be accessed by loved ones and care professionals throughout a person’s journey, helping to maintain connection, identity and comfort.

Music has an incredible ability to unlock memories and emotions—even when words become difficult to find. A special song, a childhood lullaby, or a tune from a life milestone can bring back moments that may feel out of reach.

A Music Mirror is a personal memory toolkit, blending meaningful sounds with your own descriptions to create powerful prompts for the future.

Over four weekly 1 hour sessions at the Hub, you’ll work with our healthcare students—under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist—to reminisce, explore key life moments, and identify music or sounds that hold significance.
A loved one is welcome to join you for support.

Your completed Music Mirror includes direct links to YouTube clips for easy access at any time.

To find out more or make a referral, visit our website or contact us at [email protected]

16/01/2026

Are you living with a long-term condition? Do you feel fatigued after small tasks?

We are running an online workshop for fatigue management which are led by healthcare students supported by an Occupational Therapist.

As a small group we can discuss your understanding of your fatigue and explore how this effects your daily life. We will learn and share strategies together to help you manage your symptoms and improve your everyday life.

We are now booking spaces for our group starting on Tuesday 21 April and will run for five weeks. Sessions are from 10am-11am and you will need to book into the five-week workshop.

Head to our website to find out more and to download our referral form.

15/01/2026

Ready to start the new year curious and inspired? The first Coffee Morning of 2026 by University of Essex Babylab is here!
Join Dr Jess Leov and guest presenter Emma Shaw (StartStrong Fitness) as we explore the changes a mother’s brain and body go through during pregnancy (and beyond).

Coffee Morning with Essex Babylab
‘Motherhood Rewired: Brain and Body changes in pregnancy (and beyond)’
📅 Thursday 29th January 2026
⏰ 10:00 – 11:30 AM
📍At Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub (CO4 3GS), University of Essex

Jess is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Essex Babylab. Her PhD research investigated sensory development in the womb, focusing on fetal visual perception. Jess's curiosity about how babies use their senses to understand the world underpins her current work, which explores how multisensory experiences shape early development.

Emma is the founder and CEO of StartStrong Fitness. As a dedicated personal trainer and specialist in pre & post natal fitness, Emma is passionate about empowering individuals both physically and mentally.
Start Strong Fitness provides free exercise classes for parents with the central mission of ensuring no one navigates the journey of parenthood alone. As a mum herself, Emma combines her professional expertise with the lived understanding of the challenges parents face. Through StartStrong Fitness, Emma has built a supportive community that promotes health, confidence and meaningful connections.

Interested? Book your FREE ticket today! Just scan the QR code in the image or click this link to reserve your spot: https://tinyurl.com/nhk64ebb
See you there on Thursday 29th January! ☕️✨

23/12/2025

🎄 Festive Season Closure Notice 🎄

The Health, Wellbeing and Care Hub is now closed for the festive season and will reopen on Monday, 5th January 2026.

We wish all our service users and community a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year! ✨

Thank you for your continued support – we look forward to welcoming you back in 2026!

Stay safe and enjoy the holidays! 🎅🎁

Address

Health, Wellbeing And Care Hub, Clingoe House, Knowledge Gateway, University Of Essex, Boundary Road
Colchester
CO43ZL

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Website

https://www.essex.ac.uk/centres-and-institutes/health-wellbeing-and-care-hub

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