Choir charity involving people impacted by homelessness announce launch of Sheffield choir.
The Choir with No Name, a charity who run choirs involving people who’ve been affected by homelessness and marginalisation, are delighted to announce plans to launch a choir in Sheffield. This choir will join a family of groups run around the country, currently operating in Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Coventry, Brighton and Cardiff.
The Choir with No Name was founded in 2008 and has since expanded to meet the growing need for safe singing communities involving people with lived experience of homelessness, singing with upwards of 650 people every year. In recent years, the choirs have welcomed guests including Tom Odell and Mel Giedroyc to their shows and have packed out venues such as the Brighton Dome and London’s Cadogan Hall.
Dr Kate Wareham, CEO of Choir With No Name, said: "As CEO of The Choir with No Name and as someone brought up in this beautiful city, I am absolutely delighted to see the birth of a new choir right here in Sheffield. The Archer Project and the Cathedral have been wonderful in championing the joy of singing together for all people, particularly for those experiencing really tough times. I can't wait to watch the Sheffield choir grow and see how the future members will make the choir theirs, at the heart of this city.
“With homelessness increasing at an alarming rate, whilst many people and organisations in the city are working hard to help people find places to live, work and learn, choir is a place where members can come and belong, while everything else is uncertain. It is a place to be in the moment and have fun, a place to find friends and a chosen family. Choir is a place to sing your heart out if you are going through a tough time, and feel better, stronger and happier."
The choir will be run in partnership with Sheffield Cathedral and The Archer Project, who for thirty years have themselves supported those experiencing homelessness in Sheffield. The Choir with No Name is looking forward to bringing their joyful sound and close community to South Yorkshire.
The Very Revd Abi Thompson, Dean of Sheffield, said: “We are glad to share the Cathedral building with the Archer Project and are so pleased that their staff, volunteers and beneficiaries are beloved members of our community. Music unites people of all kinds of backgrounds, builds community and forges friendships and connections that make all the difference when life is tough. Having ‘The Choir With No Name’ in Sheffield is a welcome and exciting addition to the variety of music making that happens in the Cathedral. More music, more joy…”
Tom Daggett, Director of Music and Schools Singing Programme, said: “Singing changes people’s lives in profound ways, and the Choir with No Name has an amazing track record of bringing positive changes to those who live on the margins. Given the Cathedral's mission to serve the homeless community through the Archer Project, and with a personal background of supporting people experiencing homelessness through music, I’m excited by what lies ahead for us in the Steel City.”
Tim Renshaw, CEO of The Archer Project, said: “Music is a fantastic thing that many people enjoy. It has all sorts of therapeutic merit – it can benefit physical health, mental health, it’s a great social activity to bring people together, a form of self-expression, and it’s something anyone can take part in – one way or another. Choir With No Name combines all this in a format where people can have fun, connect to people with whom they have a shared experience, and explore performance as something that might be new to them. It’s a tremendous opportunity for the people taking part to feel good about life.”
To mark the launch of the Sheffield choir, there will be an event in the Cathedral on Wednesday 16 October featuring Choir with Name’s Liverpool choir and members of the organisation who will be announcing further details and how the local community can get involved.
Find out more about the Choir With No Name and how you can support this wonderful new initiative here.