Oxford hospice supports families to make songs in memory of children

The families, supported by Oxford-based Helen & Douglas House children’s hospice, had the opportunity to create these songs through the Keepsake Circle project.

They were made with the help of songstress Kiki Deville and award-winning songwriter Angus Powell at the Keepsake Circle.

Ms Deville, based in North Yorkshire, and Mr Powell, based in Wales, travelled to Oxford during the summer of 2023 to meet each family individually.

Angus Powell and Kiki Deville performed the songs at a private concert (Image: Helen & Douglas House)

With the support of the Helen & Douglas House bereavement team, each family shared memories of their child.

Over the following months, an original song was created for each child.

These songs were then performed live to friends and family by Ms Deville and Mr Powell during a private concert at Kingston Bagpuize House on May 20.

Among the families were Holly and Jason Coe, whose daughter Jasmine died five days after she was born in 2015, and Vicky and Keith Newell, whose eight-year-old daughter Jessica died in 2022.

Ms Newell said: "Working with Kiki and Angus has been beautiful.

"It was quite hard to begin with, with feeling that we had to try and capture Jessica in the one meeting we had together.

"I left wondering if I had said everything, I had wanted to say about her. But it's incredible to see how that goes from that to this incredible song.

"I feel that this song is another step along that journey to remember her. She can be in our lives forever and we can have this song to play special moments when we want to remember her."

Helen & Douglas House is only the second hospice in the UK to take part in the project.

The hospice provides support for families with terminally ill children during their lives and assists families in their grief.

In early 2023, it decided to add the Keepsake Circle project to its range of services, working with Ms Deville, who is also a bereaved parent, and Mr Powell, who set up the Keepsake Circle together in 2022.

Ms Deville, whose son Dexter died 17 years ago, said: "It was so lovely to be welcomed to Helen & Douglas House.

"We were made to feel like family. The team has been wonderful, supportive, professional, and incredibly organised."

Mr Powell added: "It’s been such a heart warming experience - the team and the families have been absolutely amazing.

"We feel incredibly proud to do what we do, to meet these wonderfully inspiring people and hear all about their children."