Adonis Refuge Community aims to provide support for people who have lost a loved one and don’t know where to turn for help

Deza Powell (left) and Keisha Rodney (right) were joined by Enfield mayor Mohammad Islam (centre) at the launch event for The Arc last week

A support group for families who have suffered a bereavement has been launched in honour of a Brimsdown boy who died while on holiday.

The Adonis Refuge Community (Arc) was set up by Deza Powell, with support from her friend Keisha Rodney, after Deza’s son Adonis tragically died last year in Portugal, at the age of just ten months.

As well as dealing with the enormous shock and heartbreak of her son’s death, Deza didn’t know where to turn to for support and guidance.

The idea behind The Arc is to ensure that people facing similar tragedies “have a place to turn for help from the very beginning” and can get access to “essential support in their time of need”.

At a launch event on Thursday (10^th) at The Qube in Ponders End, Deza told the Dispatch: “We felt there needed to be a lot more support around grief.

“There have been things I’ve seen that really need to improve and we want to create a safe space for parents who are grieving, to be able to come together – we were kind of left waiting around in our grief with nowhere to go.”

As well practical guidance, group therapy is a cornerstone of what Arc aims to provide, as families can end up waiting months for therapy on the NHS and, when it does arrive, it can be very limited.

Deza said: “I now have therapy once a week, but what do I do for the rest of the week? Grief is 24/7.”

The Arc will offer a range of events throughout the year, designed to bring families together in a fun and safe environment.

“We want to remove the stigma for grief,” Deza added. “We want to have a space where you can say exactly how you feel.”

Activities and events planned for the ten families so far signed up to The Arc include spa retreats, smashing pumpkins and reiki therapy sessions, as well as simpler things such as coffee mornings. The practical support will include help with funeral arrangements, childcare and even meal preparations, as even simple tasks can feel overwhelming when people are grieving.

Keisha said it was about “the little things that make a big difference to people” and that it “won’t be one size fits all” as the activities and support offered would be adapted to what families want.

“There is not really a village community any more, where there is support and understanding,” Keisha said. “We wanted to change the narrative so when you go through something like this you get the support you need.”

The next step for The Arc is to recruit some volunteers and find a regular space they can use for group activities, as well as contact local families in Enfield and Haringey that may need their support.

Keisha said: “One of our ambitious goals is to establish a dedicated space where families can come together – a place that offers resources without the long waiting times often experienced in traditional healthcare systems.”

In addition, The Arc has been involved in developing a mobile phone app, called Arc Voyage, which will provide parents with support while they are on holiday – described as “a crucial lifeline in emergencies, providing medical information at your fingertips”.

The sudden and unexpected death of Adonis in Portugal led Deza and her partner Paul to begin a battle for justice against the Portugese government and healthcare system, with investigations ongoing into the cause of their son’s death.

Keisha and Deza now hope the new Arc Voyage app will assist with things such as language barriers and confusing administrative issues when families are dealing with a crisis abroad. The app is due to be launched in December.

Find out more about The Arc and get involved as a volunteer:
Visit adonisrefugecommunity.co.uk

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