Lady is aged between 55-80 years, retired, living with her husband and the rest of her family left home. She was shopping 4years ago when heard live music and singing. Lady enquired at time, kept in touch from time to time. Thanks to funding, we were able to contact her regarding workshops with funding from Oldham Action.
We wanted to build confidence and self-esteem whilst combat isolation and depression. Being part of a group can improve wellbeing and health.
Lady made a decision after a family health scare to contact us to see if any local singing groups were being set up, she wanted to be a part of a group like she had heard 3 years previous. She had heard one group had to close due to Covid restrictions, but thought there would be many more doing the same. So, as things lifted she decided to enquire to be a part of the workshops and enjoy for herself what she had heard 3 years previous. Due to Covid and being away from people for so long, she was scared but she felt she wanted to enquire knowing she would be in safe environment.
Funding gained allowed her to do this, she had never sang in a group before, never performed in front of an audience and never thought she could or would do. It also allowed other people that she had spoken to and brought with her to the groups the opportunity to do all the above.
Lady shared, “I first heard Soul Inspiration Gospel Choir just before Christmas 2019 in Asda Living. I was in the cafe when I heard beautiful carols being sung. It was a joy to hear their voices above the noise of the busy shoppers. Before I left, I stood by them and listened for a while. Then as I was leaving, I complimented the director, and she kindly handed me her card and invited me to join them at their practices. I was delighted as I love to sing. In the meantime, we were hit by COVID and I forgot about the invitation (but not the lovely encounter) until Summer 2022 when I came across the card. I immediately rang the number only to discover that the choir had disbanded due to lockdown, but that it was hoped that it would start again soon. After receiving a phone call inviting me to join, I found myself part of a group of friendly, like-minded singers. My reason to sing was to renew confidence in my voice and to conquer the anxiety I had developed during lockdown caring for my elderly husband. I’ve always loved singing but had begun to feel too old but now at 76 I have found that thanks to an encouraging and kind director my voice blends with others to give the joy I felt that Christmas in 2019."
