At Natural Breaks, we believe people should be treated with the upmost respect and dignity, always ensuring that we deliver person-centred support that is responsive to individual’s changing needs. This is why we advocate for every person we support, their rights, their independence and their health – to remain flexible and adaptive to every change. With our caring, safe and effective approach, we were able to achieve this when supporting Joyce through her recent journey.

 

Towards the end of October, Joyce rang the bell at Clatterbridge centre to mark the end of her cancer treatment – a truly special moment that our organisation had the privilege to be part of. It was a time filled with emotion, pride and gratitude – not only for her strength but for the unity, love and partnership work that stood behind Joyce from beginning to end.

 

Since 2013, Joyce has been part of Natural Breaks and lives with Hazel through our Supported Living department. They receive shared support, which enables both ladies to live a full life, both at home and in the community, doing all the things they want to do. Included within this, is the dedication from support teams and managers for Hazel and Joyce to attend regular health checks, screenings and appointments to maintain their health condition or respond quickly to concerns – as we do with all people we support.

 

During a routine health screening, earlier in 2025, doctors picked up on an anomaly which initiated further testing and eventually led to her diagnosis. From here, healthcare professionals, specialists and our support teams worked with Joyce, and one another, while she underwent four weeks of radiotherapy treatment throughout September and October.

 

Her staff went over and above to ensure that Joyce had all the support she needed, when she needed – from building positive, strong relationships with staff at Broadgreen Hospital and Clatterbridge cancer centre, liaising with her favourite staff member to be on hand and deliver any updates, to supporting Hazel around Joyce’s treatment plans and needs, ensuring both ladies continued to receive the highest-quality, person-centred care that reflected their personal wants and wishes, without any compromise.

 

Throughout her treatment, Joyce continued her regular weekly visits with her boyfriend too. Support teams and managers worked together to facilitate the visits, adopting a flexible approach – whether that be times, locations or days. This ensured that they maintained their relationship and kept any anxieties at a minimum.

 

After finishing treatment and ringing the bell, Joyce set off for a spa break, as a well-deserved treat, with her boyfriend. She had an incredible long weekend at a Crooner themed weekend and spent her time feeling relaxed, pampered and rested.

 

We are incredibly proud of Joyce and immensely grateful to have been with her every step of the way. When she rang the bell, it symbolised more than the end of treatment – it represented resilience, strength and the love of being surrounded by people who genuinely care. It stood as a reminder of why our work matters so much – supporting people in every moment of their lives, including the challenging times.

 

Natural Breaks are here to walk beside every person we support, lift them up and celebrate every achievement – big or small.