Our company has continued to grow again this year. We have added an additional community singing group working with people living with Parkinson’s. It is funded through Parkinson’s UK Halifax and District. Our community groups are outlined below. Our corporate work has also grown, we have increased sales of our one-off sessions, taking on new customers and have also taken on two regular workplace choirs.Sing Therapy; monthly group for people affected by cancer. Numbers fluctuate in this group due to health but the group has fostered strong relationships and members benefit from peer support during sessions and in group chat in-between. Participants engage in relaxation and breath work during the sessions which they can also use at home. Participants report feeling less stressed and being uplifted after sessions. Evidence also shows that singing releases endorphins which interrupt a person’s perception of pain (particularly useful for this groups participants) and has also been shown to boost the body’s immune response. Keighley Can Sing; bi-monthly singing group open to anyone from the Keighley area. Due to our inclusive approach, this group while being an open group, attracts members with a range of long term health and wellbeing conditions including Parkinson’s, ME, Multiple Sclerosis and poor mental health. Participants again report experiencing less pain during the sessions, making friends and feeling less isolated, feeling less anxious and stressed and feeling uplifted.Singing for Breathing, Halifax; Weekly group for people with a range of respiratory conditions. Singing leader is trained in delivering sessions by British Lung Foundation. We work closely with NHS Respiratory team. Large group of between 15-20 attenders at each session. Through the sessions participants learn to be aware of their breathing and posture and learn exercises that support them in their self-care and management of their condition. In addition, participants report feeling uplifted, less stressed, less isolated and 2 members have reported improvements in lung function readings.Singing for Happiness, Orb; Weekly sessions for people struggling with poor mental health. Participants also include some members with visual impairments and learning disabilities. Singing has been proven to release the 4 ‘happiness hormones’ including dopamine which produces feelings of pleasure and Serotonin which helps regulate mood and also aids sleep and regulates appetite. Participants report improved feelings of happiness, reduced isolation, reduced anxiety and stress.Singing for Dementia, Orb; Bi-monthly sessions for people living with dementia and their carers. Participants and their carers report feeling less isolated and stressed, less tension in their relationships, as well as improved feelings of connection and happiness. New – Singing for Joy, Parkinson’s, Elland; Weekly sessions for people with Parkinson’s and their carers. The group regularly gets between 12-20 participants each week. Participants have formed a strong supportive bond and benefit from support from peers. Evidence shows that singing can help strengthen muscles and motor function often weakened by Parkinson’s, improving voice, speech, respiratory function, and voice-related quality-of-life. Participants report reduced anxiety and stress and feeling uplifted after sessionsWe brought participants from all our groups together in May for a joint performance at our celebration and fundraising event with much success.In addition to our increased community activity our corporate work has also increased. Delivery of our one off sessions themed around leadership, organisational development, teambuilding and wellbeing has increased, with repeat business from customers including Common Purpose as well as new clients. Our customers range from small Voluntary sector organisations to large global firms. This financial year, our clients have included:Kirklees CollegeSouth Yorkshire Housing AssociationRoyal Canin (owned by Mars)Wildlife TrustPinsent MasonsPwCNHS EnglandWe also now have two regular workbased choirs aimed at reducing stress and improving mental health and wellbeing. Singing is proven to address the top four reasons cited for self –reported sickness in the UK; poor mental health, muskoskeletal conditions, respiratory conditions and poor relationships with colleagues. These take place at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and Workplace (a Manchester based co-working space)We were also successful in receiving a place on the Entrepreneurial development programme run by Natwest Bank. This included free shared office space, coaching and business development support

We continue to gather regular feedback from participants through evaluations forms, verbal feedback and testimonials. This year we conducted a series of video interviews with participants. These can be seen on our Youtube channelAll feedback is considered in the planning of our existing services as well as the development of new ones. Feedback has influenced the time and length of the sessions, location and the choice of songs we use. Feedback has also encouraged us to do more collaboration across the groups and finding opportunities for groups to showcase & celebrate their achievements. Feedback and testimonials are sought from all corporate customers. “As part of the MMU staff wellbeing initiative we wanted a new activity and thought about several options before coming up with ‘singing’ which is known to enhance good health, be great fun and bring a whole new social network! Shared Harmonies approach to an all-inclusive choir that absolutely anyone can join is just perfect for MMU and has proven to be hugely popular and a great success. Within moments everyone is smiling and singing! For those curious, or unsure – I would HIGHLY recommend it. Not only for your own benefit and wellbeing, but also to support a fantastic cause in Shared Harmonies.” Manchester Metropolitan University

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