Online choir map shows where you can sing in Lancashire

Lancashire, County of Song has launched an online map to showcase the rich and numerous singing opportunities across the county. Over 100 choirs are already on the map, charting grass roots singing across the county to show people how and where they can access a choir or singing group near them.

Lancashire: County of Song is calling for people to share the map through their networks; for choirs to get in touch with up-to-date information, and for groups not already on the map to add themselves, particularly youth singing opportunities and dementia-friendly sessions.

The map, which has been developed in partnership with the National Centre for Creative Health, is just one of the initiatives by Lancashire: County of Song (LCoS) to elevate the profile of singing across the region in recent months.  During Creativity and Wellbeing week (May 20 to 26), a partnership between London Arts in Health Forum and the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance; Loz Kaye, director, Lancashire: County of Song, will speak at a webinar run by the National Centre for Creative Health, introducing the map and discussing County of Song.

Loz Kaye said: “Creativity and Wellbeing week is the perfect time to launch the Lancashire Community Singing Map. As well as positioning Lancashire as a place where access to singing is easy, varied and local, LCoS is working with health partners to promote the numerous physical and mental benefits of singing.

"Singing for people with dementia has shown to stimulate memory responses and promote a sense of social bonding. Singing can also have a helpful role in managing breathlessness and symptoms of chronic lung diseases.

"If you have specific health needs you can use the map search for groups that address them. We hope this will become a tool helping to continue to grow community singing in Lancashire as well as reflecting how the grassroots choir scene is thriving in Lancashire.”

There is a growing evidence base demonstrating the benefits of singing or playing music in a group. Singing as part of a group or choir can improve mental health and wellbeing, as well as combating loneliness and isolation. Research studies show that singing can support lung health and be used to help alleviate symptoms for conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s.

Meanwhile, the search for the first cohort of Lancashire singing champions continues. In the coming months, Lancashire: County of Song will announce an autumn/winter events programme for 2024; launch a brand new recruitment toolkit for choirs providing support for partnership building and the development of youth to adult community singing progression routes.

The Lancashire Community Singing Map can be viewed, shared and added to through the Arts Lancashire website here.

Submitted by Arts Lancashire