Empowering journeys through swimming

At Natural Breaks, we believe in supporting and empowering people to lead independent lives – where they can be part of their local communities, develop skills and take part in their hobbies. This is exactly what Anthony achieved, during his recent dive into swimming, with his 1:1 support.

 

Anthony has been part of Natural Breaks since 2013 and lives with Paul. Together, they receive 2:1 support which helps them in their everyday life and accessing community activities. More recently, both Paul and Anthony have started receiving 1:1 support, enabling both gentlemen to take part in their individual hobbies and interests. For Anthony, this is where the start of the swimming sessions was born.

Finding new hobbies and prioritising health

Throughout 2025, getting fit and healthy has been important to Anthony, and his team have continuously supported him to achieve this goal. Swimming was a fun, and new, way for Anthony to get moving – and keep active.

 

Before Anthony could get his swim trunks on, he and the team worked together to find the perfect pool spot. Anthony’s needs mean that he can be hypersensitive to crowds and loud noises, and although several venues offered autism-friendly sessions, this can quite often negatively impact him, due to being around individuals with heightened behaviours.

 

The team researched multiple venues across Liverpool – examining accessibility, location, quiet times and more. Afterwards, they presented all the options to Anthony in a way that he could understand and finally settled on the Double Tree Hilton Spa Hotel.

Taking new strides

This ticked all the boxes for Anthony. From a quiet environment to an easily accessible pool to dim, soft lighting – it was a brilliant fit. By the end of his swim session, Anthony had a beaming smile on his face. Not only had he completed multiple lengths, but Anthony had also managed to put his face under water and built his confidence up – all while being cheered on and encouraged by his support worker.

The power of good support

Now, Anthony is planning to do more swimming sessions, on a regular basis, and has signed up to become a Hilton Honours member. This has become more than just an activity – it’s a symbol of collaboration, person-centred planning and what can be achieved with the right support.