Our Story

Brightest Stars: A Community for Grieving Families

Brightest Stars was founded from personal experience. In March 2022, our founder, Helen Rowell, faced the sudden loss of her husband, Mike. As she navigated grief alongside her then four-year-old son, she was shocked to find so few local support groups for families like hers. Determined to change that, Helen created Brightest Stars—so no child or parent has to feel alone in their bereavement journey.

Our vision is to provide a safe, understanding space where children and families can connect, share their experiences, and build lasting friendships.

How We Support You

We offer:

  • Face-to-face meetings with other families who share similar experiences
  • Counselling to help children and parents process their grief
    Days out to create moments of joy and connection
  • Financial assistance in certain circumstances, we may be able to offer financial support towards costs such as after school care, holiday clubs etc.

We understand that grief looks different for everyone, and there’s no timeline for healing. Whether you’re newly bereaved or years into your journey, our support is here for you. If there’s something specific you think we can help with, please reach out—we’re always here to listen.

To learn more about our story and the impact Brightest Stars has had so far, watch the video below. 

Mike, Alfie & Helen

Brightest Stars Introduction Video

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