Supporting NHS 70 - Singing in the City is back

Join in the celebrations for the NHS at 70!

Date: Sunday 8th July 2018
Venue: The Whitworth, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER

On Sunday 8th July the Whitworth will be filled with choirs and a FREE singing extravaganza to celebrate the NHS at 70, in the city where the first NHS hospital opened its doors. Singing in the City will consist of sixteen fabulous, fun and infectious performances; featuring everything from classics and old favorites, to rock and pop anthems. And as part of a grand finale a mass performance is being hosted of a new song specially commissioned to commemorate this important NHS 70, We Will Overcome.

This event is designed for health and care staff, patients, care givers and the public to encourage greater engagement with singing to capitalise on the numerous emotional and physical benefits that can be gained through participation. It is a direct response to an emerging evidence base demonstrating the incredible value of non-clinical interventions to promote wellbeing and recovery, social prescribing. Singing in the City importantly highlights the value of cultural interventions to promote health and wellbeing. Workplace and community choirs can and do make a huge difference.

Research indicates the benefits of singing range from enhanced respiratory functioning and a consequent reduction in the need for rescue inhalers, to huge improvements in consumptive conditions and positive mental wellbeing. Singing promotes the release of endorphins to help fight pain, improves posture and enhances mood whilst reducing anxiety and boosting the immune system. Above all else the act of singing brings people together and fosters new social networks and relationships. It helps build a sense of community and connects us. For a detailed analysis of singing benefits see the music in our bones wesbite.

NHS England and Voluntary Sector North West, the regional voluntary sector network and the North West social prescribing agency have joined forces with the Whitworth and the MACC to build a highly successful model promoting singing for wellbeing. Singing in the City brings together NHS workplace and community choirs to showcase their work to each other and the public in order to encourage new people to get involved in singing. Project lead and co-chair of NHS England’s North West social prescribing network Jo Ward said, ’We believe singing can provide an important platform to build wellbeing and aid recovery.’

Jennifer Neff, Elemental Co-Founder and event sponsor added, ‘We're extremely excited to sponsor Singing in the City. This event offers a unique opportunity to highlight the positive impact that non-clinical care can make to people's lives. These activities connect people into their community, which is a pivotal point in managing their health and wellbeing.’

The event will also launch the registration period for the fabulous Manchester based choral Competition, the MACC, which draws in choirs from both the UK and Europe. Jon Atkin, MACC Director said, ‘ Singing in the City is a wonderful way for newer choirs to sing for the first time in public in an enthusiastic, supportive and positive environment as well as a great opportunity to hear and see some more experienced choirs in action.’

Jo Ward from Change Maker concludes, ‘It is official, singing is good for you. It helps you stay well whilst supporting recovery and it importantly it helps to start to put people in control of their own wellbeing. So we want to get more people singing together. What better way to do this than showcasing ordinary people delivering extraordinary performances through a FREE celebratory concert featuring all kinds of choirs and song.’