Help us bring music to life for people with disabilities
A recent Birmingham Inclusive Choir session
Music and singing can have a huge impact on a person’s mental and emotional wellbeing, but opportunities to take part in them are not always easy for people with disabilities due to a range of reasons.
Our Birmingham Inclusive Choir, led by experienced Choir Leads, welcomes children and young people under the age of 25 with disabilities. Being part of the Inclusive Choir enables members to enjoy a safe and inclusive place to develop their singing and music making skills, feeling part of a special community where they can develop a personal pride, make friends and share their joy with fellow performers and audiences.
Archie's story
Archie loves group sessions, being with people, watching people interact and taking part in a shared activity. He watches as much as he actively partakes in the sessions and can be quiet whilst he takes it all in, but he’ll sing the songs in the car on the way home! We sing the songs together and they are a brilliant reset if either of us is feeling tired or fed-up. Archie started to talk around the age of five and he’s still working on some words, singing is great practice.
He enjoys learning songs and being part of the music videos, he watches them over and over when they come out, looking for all his friends.
Archie has made friends in the choir and looks forward to seeing them every month. He’s even been to music sessions outside of the choir with them and had some join him for his birthday ceilidh.
Archie seeks both people and music. He loves live music. Having Helen on keyboard and Martin walking around with his guitar make the sessions extra special.
He does have his diva moments and seems to feel very comfortable at choir. Emily is brilliant at including the children in ways they want to be included.
I look forward to the sessions as much as Archie. They are so joyful and uplifting. I’ve made friends too. We routinely go for lunch together after the choir sessions now.
Including the choir in ‘mainstream’ events is a great way to reduce barriers. Children interact with/react to Archie in different ways. He intrigues and confuses people. He is very small for his age and has some facial features that are distinctive to his syndrome (Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome). And he is constantly moving, usually with a bit of a sway or a rock. Some children are scared the first time they meet him. Included him in a session introduces him as a person who loves music, can do things, and be part of something. He may use his quiet voice on stage, but he’s not afraid to be centre stage and that’s another boost for us all and something his brothers can watch and be proud of.
Many thanks for all your work
Natalie
Project Focus
People with disabilities
Choir groups
Personal wellbeing
Isolation & loneliness
Why donate?
The power of music can bring even more joy to people with disabilities, as a way to express themselves.
By supporting our Inclusive Choirs, you will help us reach even more people with disabilities, making a positive difference to their lives.
Birmingham Inclusive Choir was set up in December 2021, working with national charity Soundabout and successfully runs alongside the West Midlands Inclusive Choir.
The choir has continued to grow in popularity, and by nature is open to anyone with disabilities who wants to join, particularly encouraging children and young people with profound and severe learning disabilities, who may not be able to access mainstream singing opportunities.
Want to join the Inclusive Choir – Saturdays at the MAC, Birmingham?
£0.00
Our Birmingham Inclusive Choir, led by experienced Choir Leads, welcomes children and young people under the age of 25 with disabilities to enjoy a safe and inclusive place to develop their singing and music-making skills, feeling part of a special community where they can develop a personal pride, make friends and share in the fun of singing and music making.
A recent Birmingham Inclusive Choir session showing our staff working one to one with one ofr the choir members