29 Sep 2022 Community

Come along and join The Kirkwood Chorus

Our Support & Therapy team’s brand new singing group aims to improve quality of life for our patients and those who care for them.

The Kirkwood’s Support & Therapy team launched a brand-new singing group earlier in September – and they are encouraging anyone living in Kirklees who has been affected by a life limiting illness to come along and find out why singing can have such a positive effect on our sense of wellbeing.

The Kirkwood Chorus is a lighthearted singing group that aims to make you smile. You don’t have to be able to sing to take part. You can just come along and say hello, meet the team and join in if you like!

Mary Tyrrell Place, The Kirkwood’s Support & Therapy Service Manager, is passionate about the difference singing can make and is looking forward to welcoming people to the Friday afternoon sessions over the coming months.

Mary said: “Singing can have a hugely positive effect on our sense of wellbeing, whether it’s singing in the shower, humming along to our favourite radio station or getting involved with a local choir. That is the inspiration behind The Kirkwood Chorus. I am passionate about The Kirkwood supporting people to come together in song."

The aim of the singing sessions is simply that people feel better when they leave than when they arrived.

“The sessions are completely free and accessible for all. If you’re living with any life limiting condition, such as COPD, heart failure, dementia or cancer, are supporting someone living with one of these conditions or if you’re simply passionate about sharing the message that The Kirkwood supports people to live well, then we’d love to see you at Brian Jackson House. We'll be there most Fridays."

Although The Kirkwood Chorus is a new singing group, the idea of bringing people together in song started life in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the support of Alan Rudkin, from renowned music therapy charity Nordoff Robins, we created an online choir via Zoom back in 2020. The sessions allowed people to join in and sing along to their hearts’ content – with or without their microphones switched on.

Then, as social restrictions eased, Mary, Alan and The Kirkwood team joined forces with the Colne Valley Group Practice to launch a weekly singing session in Slaithwaite.

The Friday afternoon get togethers proved hugely popular, with the Colne Valley team ‘prescribing’ the sessions to a range of patients, who were encouraged to go along and ‘give singing a go’.

On the success of the Slaithwaite singing group, Mary said: “We had some amazing feedback. One person said it was ‘the best prescription ever received’. Another told us ‘Friday afternoon was becoming my happy place’. Touchingly, one of our members told us it was the first thing her mum [who is living with Alzheimer’s] has asked to come back to.”

 

THE KIRKWOOD CHORUS

Where: Brian Jackson House, 2 New North Parade, Huddersfield HD1 5JP

When: Most Fridays from 2pm

If you're interested in taking part or want to find out more, please call us on: 01484 557 900