People often ask me how Always Take Care got started. The company was founded in 2007 by my mum, Heather Gebbie. But the truth is, Always Take Care’s beginnings stretch back much further.

In 2002, Mum and Dad moved to the UK from Zimbabwe. They were 60 and 61 years old at the time, starting a whole new life in a new country. Back in Zimbabwe, Mum had run her own clinic, Island Hospice, and had dedicated her life to caring for others. By this point, she had decades of experience in nursing and palliative care. But coming to the UK meant starting over. So, she went back to school for 18 months to requalify as a nurse in the UK.

Mum worked in care homes and even spent time as a one-to-one nurse in an eating disorder unit for young adults. She then went to work at Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire, a high-security Category A facility. It was a job she loved – and years later, she still spoke about that time with affection and fondness.

Heather Gebbie 1942 – 2025

Then, in 2007, Always Take Care was born. My mum started it from home, and it was a true labour of love from the very beginning. She was driven by her passion for providing person-centred care and an unfettered determination to support others through some of life’s most difficult moments. She had a vision to provide care that was respectful and personal – like the care a loving family would give. Dad joined in 2009, and I came on board officially in 2010, though I’d already been helping quietly in the background. My husband Darren joined Always Take Care in 2019, starting as a Care Coordinator before moving into a training role. It really was a family business, and it still is today.

When Mum was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), she had to take a step back from the company. It was a difficult and challenging time, but she faced her illness in the same way she did everything in life – with grace, courage, and resilience. Her passion for caregiving never waned, and she remained the heart and soul of Always Take Care.

Always Take Care is here because of Mum. She was a force of nature – kind, compassionate, and determined to make a difference. Sadly, my Mum passed away in March 2025, and we miss her every day. But her indomitable spirit continues to guide us. She laid the foundations for our work, and we follow in her footsteps, doing our best to make a difference by delivering care with dignity, respect, and unwavering compassion. We honour her legacy – not just in the name, but in the way we care.