Oxford’s Helen & Douglas House creates ten beautiful songs

The songs were written and produced as part of The Keepsake Circle project, which is delivered through the charity’s bereavement support services.

Each song is a personal tribute to a child who has died, created in collaboration with their families to capture the memories, love, and personality of each child.

Michaela Middleton, whose 14-year-old son Finley died in May 2023 and was a regular visitor to the hospice, said: “Helen & Douglas House has been a lifeline for our family.

“Everyone has been so kind and supportive, not just to Finley, but to all of us.

“When Finley passed away our whole world fell apart. We wanted our song to include things that Finley did and how he lived his life.

“We feel privileged to be a part of this project.

“To be able to remember our son, Finley, in a musical way is astonishing.

“Thank you, Helen & Douglas House, Kiki and Angus, for such an amazing experience.

“This has been a transformation for us in our journey of grief and Finley will live forever in song.”

Each family worked with the charity’s bereavement team and The Keepsake Circle’s Kiki Deville and Angus Powell to turn their memories into music.

Kiki Deville, who is a bereaved parent herself, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to get to know these children through the memories of their wonderful families.

“This is my son Dexter’s legacy, and I feel very proud that I can keep his name alive in doing this work.”

Sally Hayes, director of nursing and care at Helen & Douglas House, said: “Working with The Keepsake Circle gives another choice in our bereavement toolkit so that we can reach out to more families and better support those who might otherwise not use our services.

“It was a very emotional afternoon spending time with the families when they heard the songs performed live in their child’s memory for the first time.”

The album, titled Keepsake Circle: Helen & Douglas – Part 2, is available to stream or download on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and Amazon.

Released on April 6, 2026, it serves as a permanent keepsake for families and a way for others to support the hospice.

All proceeds from the album will go to Helen & Douglas House.

The project is part of the charity’s wider bereavement support, which includes emotional and practical help for parents, siblings, and grandparents for as long as they need it.

Most of these services are funded through donations.