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Songs of Life Preston published their Delivery Report!3 weeks ago
By Well Arty
Two A Cappella Community choirs will perform arrangements of songs that are meaningful to choir members and meaningful to audience members, all of whom are older citizens of Preston.
Songs are evocative and linked to strong memories of life experiences. Sharing emotional memories create isolation-combatting bonds, and friendships. Working with two Preston choirs - Intact Singers and Soundskills Songsters 6 songs will be chosen from a list made based on their own memories. Members of the audiences will contribute 3 songs too. The resulting performance will include the stories attached to the songs and a film will be made of the process, including some of the songs and stories that do not make it into the final performances. The choir leader will arrange the songs and practice them with individual choirs, culminating in multi-choir rehearsals, then three performances in Preston care homes (venues to be confirmed). The story sharing and filming will happen in choir practices, and via one-to-one Zoom sessions and visits to care homes. No person is compelled to share and the degree of sharing will be subject to the wishes of the sharer.
What we'll deliver:
Why it's a great idea:
Some older people in Lancs suffer from social isolation: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/lancashire-insight/health-and-care/health/mental-health-and-wellbeing/social-isolation-and-loneliness/ Preston: Number of people aged 50 to 64 years rose by just over 3,800 (an increase of 16.8%) https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000123/ Participation in arts activities have been proved to reduce social isolation and improve physical and mental health. https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/3650/4744 Approx 25 people aged 50+ from Soundskills choir, Brookfield estate, Ribbleton area and Intact Singers, Ingol area, collectively, representing various ethnic groups and backgrounds, some health challenges, will take part. Audiences: Three care homes tbc. Some participation in story/ song choice. Will enable connections across Preston, opportunity to share memories, provide enlivening entertainment.
Steps to get it done:
Making contact through shared experiences will contribute to better health for participants, give purpose, facilitate visibility and give a voice, combat loneliness. It will improve the age-friendliness of Preston and enable older citizens to feel valued. It will embed a method of working that can be built on. It will provide work for local choir leader and film maker.
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I am bowled over by the generosity of all the wonderful people who have donated to this project and I can't wait to get started! I wish I knew who our anonymous donors are - your generosity has helped to ensure that this project can go ahead and I want to express my enormous gratitude to you. We have exceeded the target with some time to go - I haven't yet decided whether to let the fundraiser continue in order to add more inclusive activities and songs, or whether to end it and get going! A tricky decision. I am so excited to deliver this work and I know the choirs are itching to get started. I will return to update you once a decision has been made. You people are what good society is all about. Thank you. xxx
Brilliant news, thanks everyone!
Whoop, 40 people have pledged since fundraising began!
How will the money be spent?Target (inc. fees) £6,888
Costs Breakdown
This shows how money raised for the project will be spent. These costs have been confirmed by the project's Delivery Manager and verified.
Overfunding
This project is enabled for overfunding. If the project hits its funding goal before the end of the campaign period, any extra funds raised will be spent (in order of priority) on:
Target (inc. fees) £6,888
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VolunteerLimited Liability
The liability of Members is limited by guarantee.
Not for private profit
The property and funds of the Company must be used only for promoting the Objects and do not belong to the members of the Company.
Board
Currently two directors and one member. The directors include the Managing Director who is paid to run the company and is the Chair and Treasurer of the board. Two further board members include the Secretary and a member without portfolio.
There are two new prospective board members that will be voted onto the board at the upcoming AGM. All board members are choir members apart from one.
Stef Portersmith is the founder and Managing Director of Well Arty. She has over twenty years of experience working creatively with people, and has worked in the performing arts all of her working life. She has lots of experience managing organisations and running public events. Her passion is people and creativity, and she believes in the efficacy of creative activities for the wellbeing of all.
In-house skills:
Singing, choir leading, vocal arranging, performing, recording.
Creative writing, poetry & stories, spoken word, drama devising, script writing, performance events.
Sub-contracted skills:
Visual art, print, photography, film-making, music.
Skills in common:
Communication, leadership, nurturing, teaching, guiding, encouragement.
Choir participants
‘I feel more part of the community and have volunteered for other projects as a result.’
‘Been coming for a year and it has been one of the best times in my life (I mean that!).’
‘Feel really uplifted being in a group that all work together. Loved it.’
Project Owner: Well Arty The Project Owner takes legal responsibility for receiving and spending the funds raised and ensuring the project is delivered.
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