Report: Jacqui Sutton

The past year's been a very busy year for West Lancs. Community Choir ‘Songbirds’! We now have two choirs one based at Brookside in Ormkirk and our newest choir in Hesketh Bank, and both have welcomed many new members in 2017 and we look forward to welcoming many more in 2018.

The original ‘Songbirds’ Community Choir was formed in West Lancashire in July 2012 and now has over 60 members registered. Anyone resident of West Lancashire is welcome to attend either of the two choirs that have shown that singing brings people together and many new friendships have been formed.

Our ethos is one of inclusivity and we actively encourage and welcome everyone -sessions are fun, interactive and therapeutic!

And our aim? To make singing and music accessible to all ages and abilities and encourage people who think they can’t sing to come and join us; although we have some lovely voices in the choirs, they’re not about people’s ability to sing but about having a good time and enjoying music!

In 2017, we’ve performed at many events in the community. On Easter Sunday the choir sang for the residents at Ash Tree House in Hindley, while in June, it sang at Booths Farm in Aughton at a charity event raising money for the British Heart Foundation. The choir also sang at the Gingerbread Festival in Ormskirk in July, and in October was proud to take part in a Dementia Awareness day held in Ormskirk library - these are just a few of the choirs ‘Sing Outs’ which are always fun and help it get out into the community.

The feedback from people attending the choirs is really positive and the benefits gained are clearly evident in the growing numbers of people attending the choirs on a weekly basis. It is difficult to express in words the impact these choirs have had on peoples' lives but a few of the comments made by our members are outlined here:


“I feel much happier since joining the songbirds, I am enjoying life again’’.

“Feel down or stressed ....then come to the Songbirds. You will leave with a joyful buzz in your heart and a thrill to keep on singing!”

“Singing with the Songbirds lifts the spirits, increases the happiness and makes the sun shine again!”



And people attending the choirs have said that being part of a community choir has made a huge difference to their lives...

Over the past few years there has been a great deal of research into the power of music and the links into the health and wellbeing; the health benefits of being part of a community choir include improved lung function, reduced stress levels and improvement in both physical and mental health - the aim of our Community Choir is to increase an overall sense of wellbeing and health through music and singing!

*The choirs take place in Ormskirk on a Tuesday night 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm at Brookside, Aughton Street L39 3BH and on a Friday morning 10.30 pm till 12.00 pm at Hesketh Bank Methodist Church, Church Rd PR4 6AT - for more information, contact Jacqui on 07710 756894.