About

POWER of STARS is a Community Interest Company that provides well-being, mindfulness and mentoring training and support services, transforming the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in our society.

Currently, our services are delivered to prisoners and those vulnerable to becoming prisoners, to improve overall well-being, self-esteem and reduce harmful behaviours.

We offer a suite of fun, inspiring and engaging training programmes, to empower individuals to harness their unique power within, and to heal their emotional and physical well-being. The programmes are described as ‘life changing’ and ‘a turning point in my life’ by delegates.

Our Vision

“Our Vision is to provide the resources and strategies to awaken the POWER of people’s personal resilience and strength, and to use that power creatively to heal themselves and overcome adversity”
Debbie Brayshaw, Director

“Through engagement with funders, both locally and nationally today, we can create a brighter tomorrow”.
JH, DB, JG, KK, Directors, POWER of STARS CIC

Our Team

Debbie Brayshaw - Director Chair

Debbie has worked as a qualified Social Worker for over 30 years and progressed her career up to Director level, in and around many Local authorities. Debbie has built up a substantial understanding of children and adults traumatised by abuse and neglect.

Debbie has a particular interest in the power of people's resilience and strength, and to use that power creatively to heal themselves and overcome adversity. For this reason, Debbie decided to join Julie on her new endeavour of creating a Community Interest Company; Julie, herself a very creative and resilient friend, and to be a part of ‘POWER of STARS’ which is already proving itself to be transformative and life changing.

Following Debbie’s retirement, she is now able to offer her support and expertise in safeguarding, strategic management, Quality Assurance outcomes, and evaluation, to support this organisation's work.

Jean Goodman – Director

Jean is a retired qualified social worker and practice educator with 40 years’ experience in statutory and charitable organisations. Her extensive experience includes the Samaritans, Women's Aid, addiction services, probation hostels and local authorities. In addition, she undertook a specialist project with probation in Guernsey childcare, working on a rehabilitation program with prisoners. When Jean returned to the UK, she gained extensive experience working for local authorities within children and families, including safeguarding, children with disabilities, and deaf adults and children.

Jean’s post graduate study encompassed insights into the way in which life experiences, including childhood and family life affect perceptions and behaviour. Jean’s particular interest is the positive impact of mindfulness techniques for both mental and physical health and how these intertwine.

POWER of STARS has allowed Jean to utilise her extensive skills, and in particular her personal experiences of the life transforming effects of mindfulness on trauma and overall health and sees this opportunity as a great privilege. Her colleague, Julie has had the passion, drive, conviction, and vision to support vulnerable people and has always recognised the massive, positive impact it can have on them through ‘life changing feedback’ already received, which has totally confirmed her belief.

Gillian – Director Finance

Gillian holds an AAT qualification and is currently a finance consultant for a diverse range of companies in and around the Rutland area, including construction, upholstery, electrical and retail. Gillian’s financial career began at Duncan & Toplis,, one of the largest independent accounting and business advisers in the UK. From there, she established her own company, with over 40 years’ of financial experience, Gillian is adept to provide an effective and professional service to Power of STARS CIC. The opportunity to support Power of STARS CIC as the finance director, enables Gillian to put her vast experience and professional skills to benefit the wider community and to ‘give something back’. It was also evident that the CIC was in need of financial expertise, and this was an area which Gillian excels. Gillians knowledge, skills and abilities will ensure quality assurance and governance of all financial matters pertaining to the organisation and will demonstrate to funders that the organisation is focussed on delivering best value for money for the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups with which the CIC works with. Although Gillian works full time in her consultancy role, she is enjoying being part of this innovative and ‘life changing work’ as described by the beneficiaries of the funding awarded.

Julie Harwin – Director

Julie is qualified to master’s degree level in Strategic Human Resources, MCIPD, Training, Mindfulness Teacher and Mental Health First Aider for Adult & Youth. This alongside her 25 years’ of passionately working within the private, statutory, and voluntary sectors, including twelve years in children’s social care and ten years in a blue-chip company as an HR consultant, have supported Julie in finding her current success as the Founder & Director of STARS ® Well-being. Inspired by Julie’s daughter and three well-being mentors who supported her whole family on a recovery journey of well-being following a traumatic event; this coupled with Julie’s background in training, project management and her passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others, formed the basis of these inspirational and impactful workshops which are ‘life changing’ from extensive feedback.

The next logical step was to develop and collaborate with likeminded professionals, to create a Community Interest Company, which can positively impact the lives of multiple vulnerable groups in a unique and life changing way.

Your funding will enable more individuals to achieve ‘life changing’ results.