Made for Life after cancer

Award-winning wellness

Amanda Winwood has been a friend of Spabreaks.com for many years. She is one of a tribe of industry leaders who has dedicated her personal and professional energy to making the spa world more accessible for cancer patients.

Within that context, Amanda is a Trustee of The Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care (SATCC) - a registered charity, dedicated to setting the standard in holistic cancer care to bring expert training, spa therapists and those who need them, together. She also has her own charity, the Made For Life Foundation, which provides holistic support for people diagnosed with and recovering from cancer. She is the CEO and founder of Made for Life Organics, which makes exceptional, natural and organic skincare products, and top cap it all off, she was recognised in this year’s King’s Award for Enterprise.

She said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive the highly prestigious King’s Award for Sustainable Development. We are the first organic skincare brand and training provider of Touch Therapy Training for those living with cancer and other long term health issues to win this particular award. It is an incredible accolade."

Tea and therapy

While all of that's quite enough to make anyone feel dizzy, Amanda's efforts don't stop there. Her passion for supporting people following a cancer diagnosis through the power of holistic wellbeing, runs deep. "It's just helping others", she says modestly, but at the time of writing she's just finished training therapists at 20 Guinot clinics across the UK so they can offer facials to anyone with cancer, as well as launching her inspired Great British Tea and Therapy(™) concept with the inaugural event at The Spa at Carden.

The idea encapsulates Amanda's passion for supporting people beyond their cancer treatment, providing space to be cared for, feel good and also support their loved ones. Believing firmly in both the power of touch and the importance of being able to talk openly about experiences, the days feature mini treatments, discussions, relaxation and wellbeing workshops, plenty of food, tea and time to talk to other people on similar journeys.

At the same time she is piloting a social prescribing partnership with the NHS in Cornwall with her Tea and Therapy(™) concept, delivering three sessions to eight women living with cancer. Each one will get a touch therapy treatment, will be given a mental wellbeing 'toolbox' by a neuroscientist and meditation therapist.

The C Club

Heartened by the impact that talking and treatments can have on individuals, Amanda is tearful as she recounts how people emerge from their spa treatments glowing, as though a weight has been lifted. However, she also notes the importance of communication and is observant about where there are gaps in support.

She says: "Right now we're looking at extending that work. At the moment it's predominantly women who come to the events, but there's a theme that comes up again and again in that men don't talk about cancer. What happens with women going through cancer is that their relationships often change. The theme is that men - their partners in this case - don't know what to say, and then women don't know what to say to their partners, so they just say 'I'm fine' rather than 'actually, I'm falling apart and my heart is breaking'. What's coming out of this is we're going to launch tea and therapy for men, both those experiencing cancer themselves, and those whose partners are going through it."

She continues: "The C Club is definitely a thing for women - it's not a club people would ever choose to be in but those who are in it are grateful for the ability to connect and bond with others. For men it doesn't happen so often - they seem to experience more social isolation. Men are typically less good about asking for help but I think we have to do something so we're working on some ideas to help."

More than a spa treatment

When people come to Amanda's events, they experience a real introduction to the possibilities that holistic wellbeing has to offer. Themes revolve around meditation, relaxation, nutrition - bite sized pieces of information that can be used as individuals wish to help support wellbeing at home. Then they get to lie down and have a treatment.

She says: "Many have been refused treatments and suffer a sense of isolation - it's magic watching people go through the process and transform. Often they're anxious when they come in - many people suffer a loss of confidence following a cancer diagnosis and there's a lot of research around that. Then they open up as they have conversations with others and begin to feel safe. Next they have a properly accredited and approved treatment that you can have at any stage of your cancer diagnosis - some women come out and they're in floods, such is the sense of relief and letting go a little. It's to do with being loved; that’s the thing that makes people come out glowing where before they felt tearful and alone. It makes my heart sing."

Going forward, Amanda is continuing to work tirelessly to support anyone who's had a cancer diagnosis through her intrinsic knowledge of holistic therapies and her own inherent warmth. No doubt there will be even more to discuss in the coming weeks and months.

You can find safe and supportive spa experiences for anyone following a cancer diagnosis by exploring our Safe Hands for Cancer collection of spas where therapists have received specialist, dedicated training.