People who are not afraid of this.

Elaine is the thread running through everything here. What began as her own practice as a doula and celebrant has grown into a wider service, but the way of working has not changed: you are met by a person, not a process.

She is a born survivor who has overcome more than her fair share of life's challenges and trauma. Family estrangement, suicide, baby loss and miscarriage, marital abuse, divorce, sibling jealousy, bullying in her early years, and much more. School was far from enjoyable up to sixteen, but once free of the system, the path she chose for herself gave her the skills and knowledge to achieve great things.

She has always led with care, compassion and kindness. A good listener with a calm, friendly way about her that has carried her through some very challenging environments. Elaine is a qualified counsellor, end of life doula and funeral celebrant, with training in pastoral care, dementia care, end of life care, self care, nutrition and health, alternative and holistic therapies and business management. She has volunteered with The Samaritans, Home-Start Epsom, Ewell and Banstead, the Royal Voluntary Service and Oxfam.

In this next chapter she hopes to use everything she has learned to bring a better understanding of dying, death and grief to everyone.

Sarah retired from the NHS after a long career as a senior cardiac nurse, working latterly in business management. She now works part time alongside Elaine, supporting the business wherever she can.

Away from work she looks after her ageing parents, the family dogs and the chickens, volunteers at Oxfam in Cranbrook, and keeps swimming and Pilates in her week.

Lisa is a daughter, sister, wife, friend, mum and nanny, and has spent over a decade at the British Heart Foundation as well as running her own business with her husband.

Asked to describe herself, she found it hard, so she asked her children instead. Her eldest son, a man of few words, said trustworthy. Her middle son said reliable, organised and extremely welcoming. Her daughter said she is their constant, their biggest support, the one they can always rely on.

As Lisa puts it: maybe I don't need a long list of qualities or achievements. Maybe who I am can be found in the way I make people feel.