We're just in the middle of recording the second series of our Inspiring Voices Podcast. The second series will focus particularly on how we can inspire young voices and especially on how children and young people who are faced with particular challenges in their lives that effect their mental health can be supported through singing and music-making. Series 2 will be out in a few weeks so make sure that you're subscribed on Spotify or Apple or on your favourite podcast platform. In the meantime - you can catch up on our first series . The Inspiring Voices Podcast features conversations exploring the role of singing, songwriting, voice exploration and creative music-making in transforming young people's mental health and wellbeing. Subscribe now on your favourite podcast platform - Spotify: https://bit.ly/IVPodSpotify  Apple: https://apple.co/45ZCVTx   Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3raZXrF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Sing Up Foundation continues the legacy of the British Council’s World Voice programme, building upon the seven-year initiative which worked across 23 countries As the world succumbed to a global pandemic in 2020, World Voice, a British Council initiative, was drawing to a close after seven ground-breaking years and now, the Sing Up Foundation is taking on the programme to develop and continue the legacy of the international initiative. Starting in 2013, World Voice was inspired by Sing Up and developed by the British Council and Artistic Director Richard Frostick to train teachers overseas to use singing to develop musicality and as a tool for learning in the classroom. In seven years, World Voice enriched the lives of 1.55 million children and developed the skills of over 12,000 teachers across 23 countries (Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Palestine, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Siera Leone, Sudan, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe). World Voice worked in a wide variety of contexts and was adapted to support a range of outcomes for children, from supporting language learning, to fostering a sense of community in refugee camps, to using the content of songs to learn about curriculum subjects and more. Across all of the contexts and across the world, World Voice managed to have a real impact on the wellbeing of the children and their teachers, highlighting and supporting the established research about the wide-ranging benefits of singing on health and wellbeing. In the World Voice evaluation conducted by Sound Connections, amongst many important outcomes, the benefits of the singing programme on overall wellbeing, on the children’s sense of achievement, social skills, behaviour, engagement and building relationships were all highlighted as key outcomes. Developed by Richard Frostick and built on a cascade model, the international training programme first sent in experienced singing leaders to work with children, then train the children’s teachers, music specialists and lay teachers and finally train some of these teachers to become Master Trainers to mentor and cascade the methods further. The programme was underpinned by a set of resources and a handbook, all of which will be available through the Sing Up Foundation. The World Voice Teacher’s Handbook, videos, the Sound Connections evaluation and a selection of song materials are now available at www.singupfoundation.org/worldvoice Celi Barberia Head of the Sing Up Foundation, says: “We’re incredibly honoured to continue and build upon the World Voice programme. It‘s clear that World Voice had a profound impact and over the next year we will develop the work to celebrate the legacy established by the British Council and create a revitalised World Voice programme.” Cathy Graham OBE, Director of Music at the British Council, says: “The joy that World Voice has generated for everyone who has been associated with it across the world is truly inspirational, and a ringing endorsement of the power of singing to improve lives. As Sing Up is the organisation which delivered the National Singing Programme in England during 2007 – 2012 which was the original inspiration for World Voice, we can say that the programme is returning home. The British Council is delighted that the initiative’s important cultural relations legacy will continue to flourish under Sing Up.” To find out more about the Sing Up Foundation and World Voice and to access the evaluation, the teaching handbook and some of the teaching materials, visit www.singupfoundation.org/worldvoice As part of the British Council's World Voice programme, Artistic Director Richard Frostick delivered singing workshops overseas for teachers, children and young people. EDITOR'S NOTES: March 2020 marked the end of the British Council’s World Voice Programme after seven years in 23 countries. The programme, which trains teachers to use singing to develop musicality and as a tool for learning in the classroom, operated in partnership with governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), United Nations (UN) agencies, arts organisations, headteachers and schools. It reached over 1.5 million children and trained over 18,000 teachers. The World Voice methodology was developed by Artistic Director, Richard Frostick, which enabled a flexible programme of singing training that could be applied to a wide variety of contexts and trainees of all levels, and adapted to support a range of outcomes for children, including language learning, fostering a sense of community in refugee camps, using the content of songs to teach all aspects of the curriculum, and as a tool for positive behaviour management, or to build confidence and self-esteem. The programme was underpinned by World Voice resources, including the online World Voice Songbook and the World Voice Teachers Handbook. The Handbook and a selection of these songs and resources are now available at www.singupfoundation.org/worldvoice Sing Up is an award-winning organisation that began as a government funded programme to reinstate singing in primary schools in 2007. It was a very successful programme, reaching 98% of primary schools by 2012. Since 2012, when the funding stopped, the organisation has sustained itself entirely through earned income from schools’ membership subscriptions and the continued loyalty and investment from schools is a sign of the value they place on singing and on the work of Sing Up. Sing Up provides resources, training and guidance to support schools and believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With ten years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing at the heart of learning. Sing Up has always been a champion of the wider benefits of singing – for education, social and health outcomes – and marked its 10th birthday in 2017 by launching the Sing Up Foundation, a new charity with a commitment to a new charitable purpose supporting singing for health and wellbeing. The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. In 2019-2020 we reached over 75 million people directly and 758 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 14.5 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. www.britishcouncil.org For further information, please contact Celi: i nfo@singupfoundation.org Website:   singupfoundation.org Twitter:  @SingUpF ndation

Music for Good is delighted to have secured funding from the National Foundation for Youth Music to further develop and roll-out a programme of training for singing teachers and leaders. Working with Sing Up and the Sing Up Foundation, the training and resources will be focused on trauma and mental health-informed theory and practice and will be rolled out via Music Education Hubs in 2022. Music for Good Director and Practitioner Emily Foulkes has developed training based on her Masters research and will be joined by psychotherapists and other specialists to further refine and develop training and resources. In order to help inform the training, a short survey ( https://bit.ly/M4GSUFTraining ) is available for singing teachers and practitioners to complete. The survey also provides an opportunity for leaders to express their interest in the training and sign up for updates. A mixture of face-to-face and online, the training will be available nationally to teachers and facilitators of singing with children and young people. Emily says ‘particularly at this time, as we are emerging into life post-lock down, we know that mental health challenges are prevalent and mainstream services are likely to be under tremendous pressure. Equipping singing and music practitioners with skills and understanding in trauma and mental health could have a significant impact, especially as singing is fast becoming recognised for it’s potential to promote wellbeing.’ The Sing Up Foundation was set up in 2018 with the mission to produce, promote and create opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. With its commitment to this mission and the expertise of Sing Up, this is an exciting opportunity to disseminate training and resources to a wide audience and ultimately improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people through singing. Celi Barberia, Head of Sing Up Foundation says, ‘Time and again, research has proved the impact that singing can have on health and wellbeing and we’re excited to help support teachers and leaders to incorporate this mental health-informed learning in their practice. At this critical moment with a growing mental health crisis, this work with Music for Good will support leaders today and also create resources and opportunities that will have long-lasting impact.” For more information about this CPD programme or the work of Music for Good visit www.musicforgood.uk and for more information about Sing Up Foundation https://www.singupfoundation.org/ Notes to Editors: The survey for singing leaders to help inform the training is available at: https://bit.ly/M4GSUFTraining Music for Good is a charity based in Cornwall, providing, supporting and facilitating high quality music and singing provision to support learning and promote well-being. Established in 2001 as CYMAZ, Music for Good has been developing the workforce and delivering inclusive music activities for 20 years. A trauma and mental health informed organisation, the charity works in Education, Health and Community sectors. The National Foundation for Youth Music provides Lottery funding to projects in England which are targeted at children and young people facing barriers to participation. Emily Foulkes completed a Masters in Voice Pedagogy (distinction) with a specialism in trauma and mental health. She has delivered training and consultancy on this topic for a range of organisations, institutions and practitioners. Emily is a trainer for Trauma Informed Schools UK and a senior lecturer for the Voice Study Centre. Sing Up is an award-winning organisation that began as a government funded programme to reinstate singing in primary schools in 2007. It was a very successful programme, reaching 98% of primary schools by 2012. Since 2012, when the funding stopped, the organisation has sustained itself entirely through earned income from schools’ membership subscriptions and the continued loyalty and investment from schools is a sign of the value they place on singing and on the work of Sing Up. Sing Up provides resources, training and guidance to support schools and believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With ten years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing at the heart of learning. Sing Up has always been a champion of the wider benefits of singing – for education, social and health outcomes – and marked its 10th birthday in 2017 by launching the Sing Up Foundation, a new charity with a commitment to a new charitable purpose supporting singing for health and wellbeing. For further information, please contact Emily Foulkes, (email: emily@musicforgood.uk )

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5 December 2022 Sing Up Foundation appoints a team of researchers from the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy of Music and Dance to conduct a research review on singing with young refugees Young singers from the British Council’s World Voice project in Greece performing in a celebration concert. Sing Up Foundation has appointed Dr Hala Jaber, Dr Fran Garry and Professor Helen Phelan from the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance to conduct research on the impact that singing has on the mental health and wellbeing of young refugee children and unaccompanied minors. Inspired by the British Council’s World Voice projects in Greece and Palestine working with young refugees, this research is supported by the British Council funding received by the Foundation to continue the legacy of World Voice . As part of this work, the research team, headed up by Dr Hala Jaber, will conduct a literature review and evaluation of the benefits of singing on the mental health of young refugees and unaccompanied minors; develop recommendations on how to set up and run sessions and projects in future; and build a repository of research and evaluations in this field for the benefit of organisations looking to develop their practice in this area. The research considers that political and other types of refugees form a group with added vulnerability to developing mental illness, thought to be due to a complex interaction of social, biological and psychological factors, playing out over the lifespan and across communities. Anecdotal reports from teachers working every day with young refugees in their classrooms and from music organisations and World Voice projects overseas, suggests that prioritising singing can help. However, the evidence base for arts interventions in the refugee community is still in development and there is need for a comprehensive, clear collection of effective and evidence-based practice to support the development of this work. With this research project, the Foundation hopes to help inform work in this area and improve outcomes for these young people. Researchers Dr Hala Jaber, Dr Fran Garry and Professor Helen Phelan said, “We are very happy to be working with the Sing Up Foundation on this important research project. As a group of music facilitators and researchers, we recognise the power of music to engage people, and enable the sharing of lived experience. Much of our work focuses on the role of music in supporting the inclusion, health and wellbeing of refugees, particularly in post-conflict contexts. We believe that the best learning comes from combining practice with research and are looking forward to uncovering and sharing, through this project, the knowledge and experiences of excellent music practices when working with refugees and unaccompanied minors.” Celi Barberia, Head of Sing Up Foundation said, “We have been so inspired by the work we have seen with young refugees and wanted to support the sector with this research to help inform practice and promote the impact that it can have on the lives of these very vulnerable young people. We are passionate about the benefits of singing on health and wellbeing and hope that through this research review we can help support those working with young refugees and unaccompanied minors to use the most effective evidence-based singing strategies to help improve outcomes. We are excited to be working with Dr Jaber, Dr Garry and Prof Phelan who are experts in the field and excellent advocates for the work.” ENDS Notes to editors Sing Up Foundation ( www.singupfoundation.org ) is the charitable arm of Sing Up. Sing Up has always been a champion of the wider benefits of singing – for education, social and health outcomes – and marked its 10th birthday in 2017 by launching the Sing Up Foundation, a charity with a commitment to a new charitable purpose supporting singing for health and wellbeing. Sing Up Foundation received a grant from the British Council in 2020 to continue the legacy of the British Council’s World Voice Programme. The World Voice programme worked in 23 countries across seven years training teachers overseas to use singing to develop musicality and as a tool for learning in the classroom. As part of this legacy, Sing Up Foundation has been consulting with partners overseas and working to create a new platform to continue this work which will feature this research. For more information on World Voice , visit: https://www.singupfoundation.org/worldvoice Sing Up ( www.singup.org ) is an award-winning organisation that provides resources, training and guidance to support singing and music in schools. Sing Up believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing and music at the heart of learning. Dr Hala Jaber is an Irish Research Council Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Limerick, Ireland with a decade of facilitation experience with young people in the Middle East and Ireland as a music educator and community music facilitator. Her PhD in Arts Practice engaged critically with the music-making experiences of Syrian migrants escaping the war in their homeland. Her Postdoctoral degree investigates the co-designing, delivering, and evaluation of a training program that is trauma-informed for arts facilitators working in the context of post-conflict migration. Dr Fran Garry currently works as a postdoctoral researcher with the Health Research Institute, PART-IM (Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for Involving Migrants in Health Research) cluster at the University of Limerick. She is a singer, songwriter, community music educator, and an arts-based and arts practice researcher. Her work in educational and community settings includes choral leadership, vocal tuition, facilitation of musical composition, and arts project management. Prof Helen Phelan is a Professor of Arts Practice and Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. She is the programme director of the PhD in Arts Practice and an Irish Research Council recipient for her work on music and migration. She is the founder of the Singing and Social Inclusion research group and Chair of IMBAS, a support network for artistic research in Ireland. She is PI of the PART-IM research cluster on arts-based methods in migrant health research, bringing together NGO partners with researchers in medicine, nursing & midwifery and the performing arts. For further information, please contact Celi Barberia, celi.barberia@singup.org

The Sing Up Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr Jeremy Sleith has been appointed as the next Chair of the Board of Trustees. Dr Sleith brings extensive experience in the music education sector as Head of St Helen’s Music Service since 2008 and has been a Trustee of the Sing Up Foundation since 2020. Dr Jeremy Sleith is the new Chair of the Board of Trustees of Sing Up Foundation Dr Sleith also brings a particular interest in music and the arts for health and wellbeing with years of experience developing and advocating for programmes that support young people's engagement and attainment, in addition to promoting arts on prescription alongside colleagues in health and young people’s services in St Helen’s. On his appointment, Dr Jeremy Sleith has said: “I feel very fortunate to be taking over the role of Chair from David as he has laid the secure foundations for the work we have been developing. It has been great to be involved with the Sing Up Foundation as we bring together a broad range of resources and approaches to support young people at this most-needed time. Those involved in music-making and music education already know the power that music has to change lives. With the expert panels and other development work over the last year, it has been exciting to bring together workshop leaders, therapists and other health, community, and educational specialists to inform and support the work of the Foundation moving forward.” Departing Chair of Trustees, David Sulkin OBE said: “It was an honour and pleasure to serve as the chair the Sing Up Foundation for five years. There is much to be done in future concerning children, young people, health, well-being and the natural synergy of music and singing. I’m certain that Dr Sleith is the perfect person to lead the Foundation to the next level.” Celi Barberia, Head of Sing Up Foundation said: “We’re really excited that Dr Jeremy Sleith will be stepping into the role of Chair of our Board of Trustees. Following the work of the last year with the developments made possible by our Arts Council Cultural Recovery Funding and our work on the legacy of the British Council’s World Voice project, we have lots of new work launching in 2023. Jeremy’s leadership and experience will be invaluable in helping to shape the future of the Foundation. We’d also like to take the opportunity to thank David Sulkin OBE for his support, advice and guidance over the first five years of the Foundation in helping to establish and create our charity. He’s been a part of the Sing Up family since the very beginning and always will be.” ENDS Notes to editors Sing Up Foundation ( www.singupfoundation.org ) is the charitable arm of Sing Up. Sing Up has always been a champion of the wider benefits of singing – for education, social and health outcomes – and marked its 10th birthday in 2017 by launching the Sing Up Foundation, a charity with a commitment to a new charitable purpose supporting singing for health and wellbeing.  The Sing Up Foundation believes in harnessing the power of singing to improve people's mental health and wellbeing. With 50% of mental health problems established by the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 24, the Sing Up Foundation believes it's critical to focus on prevention by working with young people. The benefits of singing , especially in groups, are wide-ranging with extensive research supporting the physiological, social, psychological and behavioural benefits. The Sing Up Foundation produces, promotes and creates opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. In addition to Dr Jeremy Sleith, the following health, education and music specialists sit on the Sing Up Foundation Board of Trustees –Michelle James (Sing Up CEO), Dr Andrew McWilliams (Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Researcher from University College London, Kings College Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital), Beth Millett (Sing Up Publishing Manager), Dr Motje Wolf (Senior Lecturer in Education (Music), De Montfort University) Sing Up ( www.singup.org ) is an award-winning organisation that began as a government funded programme to reinstate singing in primary schools in 2007. It was a very successful programme, reaching 98% of primary schools by 2012. Since 2012, when the funding stopped, the organisation has sustained itself entirely through earned income from schools’ membership subscriptions and the continued loyalty and investment from schools is a sign of the value they place on singing and on the work of Sing Up. Sing Up provides resources, training and guidance to support schools and believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing at the heart of learning.  Dr Jeremy Sleith has worked as the Head of St Helens Council Music Service since its inception in 2008. Previously he held senior roles within Stockport and Suffolk Music Services and has much experience of instrumental and curriculum leadership and teaching over a 30+ year career. He gained a PhD in education research investigating how a service could create a Wider Opportunities programme that considered its participants as musicians and the class as a band or orchestra from the first lesson. He has also been instrumental in setting up a Music Education Hub Alliance across the Liverpool City Region and the Local Cultural Education Partnership for St Helens. Over the past few years, Jeremy has become passionate about the role that music and the arts can play in the lives of young people. He is an advocate for a broad and balanced school curriculum that supports the intellectual and emotional growth and understanding in all young people. More recently, he has become a keen advocate for the use of the arts as therapy and is currently developing a number of arts on prescription models to support young people's wellbeing. David Sulkin OBE has been the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Sing Up Foundation since 2017, helping to establish and create the Foundation. Throughout his career, David has played a leading role in arts education. Roles include, Director of the Royal Court Young People’s Theatre, Co-founder of the Baylis Programme at English National Opera, Director of Policy and Programmes at Youth Music, Chief Executive of Help Musicians UK and currently Director of Artist Development at the National Opera Studio, where he is leading on a special programme to increase access to training for the opera stage called Diverse Voices. He helped establish the International Festival of Young Playwrights in Australia and has worked extensively in the Czech Republic, directing plays and operas. He was Associate Director of Janáčkovy Hukvaldy - the Janáček Festival in the composer’s home village in Northern Moravia and is currently special advisor for learning and participation at the National Theatre of Prague. While at Youth Music, David led on the campaign to reintroduce singing in primary schools which led to the publication of the ground-breaking Singbook followed soon afterwards by the National Singing Programme which became Sing Up. David has worked a trustee for many organisations including, Chair of governors at Clerkenwell Parochial School, Chair of the Cripplegate Foundation, Chair of the North London Children’s Choir and trustee of the Association of Charitable Organisations and is delighted to be chair of the Sing Up Foundation. David was awarded an OBE in HM The Queen’s New Year’s Honours in 2014. His interests include motorcycling, sea-bathing, Russian language and culture and the history of early recording. For further information, please contact Celi Barberia, celi.barberia@singup.org

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20 September 2023 Sing Up Foundation launches Inspiring Voices, a new podcast exploring the role of singing in improving mental health and wellbeing Inspiring Voices: a new podcast from Sing Up Foundation This week, the first two episodes of the Sing Up Foundation’s new podcast, Inspiring Voices have been released. Inspiring Voices is a new podcast from the Sing Up Foundation dedicated to exploring the role of singing, songwriting, voice exploration and creative music-making in improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The podcast is hosted by the Sing Up Foundation’s Joint Head of Foundation Baz Chapman and features inspiring conversations with singers, leaders, researchers and other music specialists. The first series will feature nine conversations that will be released fortnightly from September to December 2023 on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and Google Podcasts. Each episode of Inspiring Voices will also be available to view as videos on the Sing Up Foundation’s YouTube channel. This first series has been funded through support received by Sing Up and the Sing Up Foundation from Round 3 of Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund and the podcast will be of particular interest to teachers, school leaders, teaching students, community workers, music leaders, singing leaders, choir leaders, charity workers and mental health workers. The first episode of the Inspiring Voices podcast, released this week, features a conversation with wellbeing music specialist, educator, author and speaker Sophie Garner. In this episode, Sophie shares her advice with Baz on how to get started with singing with any group and through poignant stories from across her career, she demonstrates how she gets young people involved in songwriting. She also introduces her books on singing to support children & young people's mental health & wellbeing. The second episode, also released this week, will feature a conversation with vocalist, clarinettist, composer and workshop leader Aga Serugo-Lugo. In this inspirational conversation, Aga shares his experiences and views on the value of group singing, the power of performance and tips for leading singing successfully taken from his years of working with groups as wide ranging as Streetwise Opera to local community choirs to children’s groups and Music in Detention to name a few. The first season of Inspiring Voices will also feature conversations with community musician and Yorkshire Youth and Music’s lead practitioner Chris Morris, singing leader and director of Living Song Jane Wheeler, community musician and vice chair of Sound Sense Mark Bick, Chair of Music Education at University College London Professor Graham Welch, international non-binary beatbox star SK Shlomo, Creative Manager, Community Leader, Award-winning Educator Ben Turner and vocal animateur and Principal Conductor of Young Voices David Lawrence. A video trailer for the first season featuring all the guests can be found at https://bit.ly/IVPodTrailer Baz Chapman, Joint Head of Foundation and Inspiring Voices podcast host says: ‘At a time when children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing is of increasing concern, we want Inspiring Voices to shine a light on the outstanding work being done by all sorts of people to transform young lives through singing. The podcast guests have been an absolute privilege to speak with, and we hope they will inspire others to explore how singing and vocal creativity can achieve amazing things’. The first two episodes of Inspiring Voices can be heard now on the following platforms at: Spotify: https://bit.ly/IVPodSpotify Apple: https://apple.co/45ZCVTx Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3raZXrF Google: https://bit.ly/IVPodGoogl e YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SingUpFoundation IMAGES: CAPTION: Inspiring Voices podcast cover art. CAPTION: Inspiring Voices podcast guest, Sophie Garner, working with children as part of a songwriting workshop. CAPTION: In his element, Inspiring Voices guest Aga Serugo-Lugo conducting a performance at a festival. ENDS Notes to Editors Inspiring Voices is a new podcast created by the Sing Up Foundation, hosted by Baz Chapman Joint Head of Foundation. Through conversations with singers, leaders , researchers and other specialists, the podcast considers the unique role of singing, songwriting, voice exploration and creative music-making in improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The first series will feature nine episodes that will be released fortnightly from September to December 2023. This series has been funded through support received by Sing Up and the Sing Up Foundation from Round 3 of Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund. The video trailer for the first season of Inspiring Voices can be viewed on the Sing Up Foundation’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/IVPodTrailer Inspiring Voices can be found on the following platforms: Spotify: https://bit.ly/IVPodSpotify Apple: https://apple.co/45ZCVTx Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3raZXrF Google: https://bit.ly/IVPodGoogle The Sing Up Foundation ( www.singupfoundation.org ) produces, promotes and creates opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. Through partnerships, resource development and innovation the Sing Up Foundation – explores and highlight effective practice, connects practice with research, creates research-based pilot projects to build and share knowledge and understanding and increase impact, and supports and develops the workforce and settings surrounding children and young people.  The Sing Up Foundation is Sing Up’s charitable arm focused on producing charitable activities through fundraising, partnerships and innovation. The Foundation shares in Sing Up’s goal to ensure that children and young people have opportunities to sing and make music regularly and well for all the benefits that research shows that brings, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing. Foundation staff work for Sing Up and sit on Sing Up’s Senior Management Team. Likewise, two members of Sing Up’s staff, including CEO Michelle James, sit on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.  Sing Up ( www.singup.org ) is an award-winning organisation that provides resources, training and guidance to support singing and music in schools. Sing Up believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing and music at the heart of learning.   The full first season of Inspiring Voices will feature conversations with: Sophie Garner - Sophie Garner is a singer described by the Times as 'one of the most stylish British vocalists', as well as being a music specialist, educator, speaker, and author of two books: The Creative Songwriting Journal and If You Can't Say It, Sing It! Sophie seeks to change lives through singing and songwriting. Aga Serugo-Lugo - Aga Serugo-Lugo is a vocalist, clarinettist, composer and workshop leader whose interests lie particularly in narrative-based community music-making, focussing on accessibility and inclusivity. He has worked with, amongst many others, Music in Detention, Trinity Laban, MENCAP, Wigmore Hall, Sing Up and numerous opera companies around the UK. He also co-runs Camberwell Community Choir and is Ambassador for Britten Pears Arts' 'Group A' in Lowestoft and Ipswich. Chris Morris - Chris Morris is a community musician working in and around Sheffield. He has helped to set up recording studios for community use, organises music events and Festivals and is a guide and mentor to many young musicians in the city. He is lead practitioner with Yorkshire Youth & Music working with young people in Youth Justice Settings and secure children’s homes, whom they describe as one of their exceptional music leaders, working as he does with some of the nation’s most vulnerable young people, so that they can discover, explore and develop their musical and creative potential. Jane Wheeler - Jane Wheeler is a freelance music education consultant and Director of Living Song, who works with a passion for raising the quality of music-making, developing young leaders and fostering community cohesion. Her many roles have included Music Advisor for the London Borough of Newham, Director of the music programme for ARK Schools, and Director of several choirs including Solid Harmony Youth Community Choir, Forest Voices adult community choir and New Young Voice Collective. Since 2014, Jane has been a leader for British Council’s World Voice programme. Mark Bick - Mark is a renowned and highly experienced community musician and trainer. Most of his working life based in Gloucestershire, particularly starting up what has now become The Music Works. He also worked in the West Midlands developing and leading training courses, including the Quench Arts New Horizons course, which has been running for nearly 20 years. The core of Mark’s work has been with young people who struggle with various barriers, including those excluded from school, who are looked after, or have disabilities. Mark is Vice Chair of Sound Sense, the UK professional association for community musicians. Professor Graham Welch - Professor Graham Welch is Chair of Music Education at University College London, Chair of the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research and is heavily involved in the International Society for Music Education. He is a former member of the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council Review College for Music and has published numerous research papers into music and particularly singing, not least ‘Researching the Impact of the National Singing Programme ‘Sing Up' in England’ in 2011. SK Shlomo - SK Shlomo is an international non-binary beatbox star, former world looping champion, 3-times TEDx speaker and disability & mental health ambassador. They are also founder of the Beatbox Academy and long-time friend of Sing Up, being as they are, particularly gifted at, and committed to, working with children and young people. Ben Turner – Ben Turner is a Creative Manager, Community Leader, Award-winning Educator and Youth Arts Leader with experience in education, youth activism and creative arts/entertainment. Founding Director of Rap Club Productions C.I.C (home of The Spit Game, SpokenLDN, KingdomLDN), working against serious youth violence and promoting positive youth communities and cultures. He supports schools to embrace young Black cultures and creativity within the curriculum. He is a regular conference speaker and endorsed by the Home Office, TeachFirst, BBC and others for approach to youth work/education. David Lawrence - David Lawrence is one of the UK’s most versatile conductors, who works with symphony orchestras and bands, and with choirs and choruses of all types. But David may be best known as Principal Conductor of the Young Voices arena concerts with thousands of school children. For further information and photos, please contact Celi Barberia or Baz Chapman ( info@singupfoundation.org ), 0204 566 9666

Sing Up has recently added new members to both the Board of Sing Up Ltd and the Trustees of the Sing Up Foundation. Sing Up Foundation is the organisation's charitable arm. New Appointments: Natasha Hendry - joins the main Board as a new non-executive Director Natasha is a music psychologist, researcher, educator, singer, speaker and social justice activist. She's an expert on diversity and de-colonisation of the music curriculum and a Research Psychologist specialising in music, wellbeing and social justice. Additionally, the following people are joining the Board of Trustees for the Sing Up Foundation : Vernon Fuller Vernon is a musician, songwriter, community singing facilitator, voice over artist and mental health and wellbeing tutor based in the North West. Alongside his work teaching guitar and vocals and leading various singing groups, he is a Mental Health First Aider and delivers self-esteem and self-confidence courses to groups.  Sarah-Jane Gibson Sarah-Jane is an ethnomusicologist who focuses on intercultural understanding through music-making. She’s a Music Lecturer at York St John University and the Music Director of the Stamford Bridge Singers. She also has a background in music education having taught in Primary and Secondary schools in South Africa, the United States and England. Beth Ismay Beth is the Learning Programmes Manager at the National Youth Jazz Orchestra developing their Under-18s programme. She’s an experienced youth music programme manager, with a track record in developing projects that reach young people who may otherwise experience barriers to accessing the arts. Becky Kingsnorth Becky is the Assistant Director, Primary Care Strategy and Change with the NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board. She has experience of successful programme management, change leadership, strategic development, healthcare commissioning, and service transformation in the private, voluntary and public sector.  Rhona Miller Rhona is the Associate Assistant Head Teacher at Addington School and has worked in music and special education with children and young people with learning disabilities as a music teacher and leader since 2005 with children from the ages of 2 to 18. She has also led the Berkshire Association of Special Schools creative arts group. Zeny Zerfu Zeny is a Teacher and Trainer in Education and Music for British Council Ethiopia. She was also a World Voice Master Trainer. As a facilitator, she encourages learning through stories and art and supports international partnerships.   Michelle James, CEO of Sing Up said of the appointments "We are absolutely delighted to welcome these new appointments to Sing Up's Boards. Our new Board members bring with them a wealth of expertise, knowledge and passion for the role of music in society, particularly in relation to equity, diversity and inclusion and to the mental wellbeing of children and young people. We look forward to working with these talented individuals at a governance level where they can guide us forward alongside our other Directors and Trustees." Jeremy Sleith, Chair of Sing Up Foundation said "I am so pleased to welcome our new trustees to the foundation, as they all bring something unique and individual to our expanding group.  Collectively I feel sure that they will greatly enhance the work supporting young people's mental health through singing and creative music making and look forward to developing our reach and scope of activities with them all over the coming years." Interviews and photos available by contacting press@singup.org . Notes to Editors: Sing Up ( www.singup.org ) is an award-winning organisation that provides resources, training and guidance to support singing and music in schools. Sing Up believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With 17 years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support continue to put singing and music at the heart of learning.      The Sing Up Foundation ( www.singupfoundation.org ) produces, promotes and creates opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. Through partnerships, resource development and innovation the Sing Up Foundation – explores and highlight effective practice, connects practice with research, creates research-based pilot projects to build and share knowledge and understanding and increase impact, and supports and develops the workforce and settings surrounding children and young people. The Sing Up Foundation is Sing Up’s charitable arm focused on producing charitable activities through fundraising, partnerships and innovation. The Foundation shares in Sing Up’s goal to ensure that children and young people have opportunities to sing and make music regularly and well for all the benefits that research shows that brings, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing. Foundation staff work for Sing Up and sit on Sing Up’s Senior Management Team. Likewise, two members of Sing Up’s staff, including CEO Michelle James, sit on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Teachers and practitioners invited to share insights on using singing to support young people's wellbeing  As mental health challenges among children reach crisis levels worldwide, Sing Up Foundation is launching research to inform its State of Play report, a comprehensive report of how singing and vocal work supports children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.  The Foundation's Practitioner Survey ( https://bit.ly/SUFSurvey2026 ), live this week, will gather insights from teachers, music leaders, mental health professionals, and youth workers internationally to build this critical picture of current practice, challenges, and support needs.  The Growing Crisis   Mental health challenges among children and young people have reached crisis levels globally. In England, one in five (20%) children aged 8-16 had a probable mental health condition in 2023, according to NHS Digital, a sharp increase from one in nine in 2017. Similar patterns are emerging internationally, with schools and community settings increasingly on the front lines of this crisis, yet practitioners often report feeling under-prepared to respond effectively.  Research conducted by Sing Up Foundation in 2022 found that 84% of practitioners reported increased mental health needs among the children they work with, yet only 26% felt "very prepared" to address these challenges.  Understanding Current Practice   "Our State of Play report will provide a comprehensive view of how singing and vocal work is being used to support children's mental health," said Celi Barberia, Joint Head of Foundation at Sing Up Foundation. "But we can't do that without practitioners' voices. We need to hear directly from those on the front lines about what's working, what barriers you face, and what support you actually need. These insights will shape not just the report, but the training, resources, and advocacy we develop going forward."  The seven-minute confidential survey explores:  Current practice in using singing and vocal work for mental health and wellbeing  The severity and types of mental health challenges practitioners are encountering  Barriers preventing effective support  Skills gaps and training needs  What resources and support would be most valuable  Why Singing Matters   While waiting lists for mental health services stretch for months, evidence suggests that music and singing can play an important role in supporting children's wellbeing, from universal prevention to targeted intervention.  "This isn't just data collection," added Baz Chapman, Joint Head of Foundation. "The State of Play report will be an important resource for the sector, documenting what's really happening, what's working, and where the gaps are. It will give us the evidence we need to advocate for better support and recognition of this vital work."  State of Play Report   Findings from this survey will inform Sing Up Foundation's State of Play report, a comprehensive report of how singing and vocal work is being used to support children and young people's mental health and wellbeing. It will be published in spring 2026 and will provide a useful resource for practitioners, policymakers, and organisations worldwide, documenting current practice, identifying what works, and making recommendations for sector support.  All survey participants can opt to receive a copy when published.  Who Should Participate   The survey is open to anyone working with children and young people, including:  Teachers (mainstream and SEND)  Music leaders and practitioners  Music therapists  Mental health professionals  Youth workers  Community arts practitioners  Senior leaders and headteachers  Practitioners do not need specialist expertise or to be currently using singing for mental health work. The Foundation is interested in perspectives from all experience levels.   Survey Details   The Practitioner Survey is now open and will close on Friday, 17 January 2026. The survey takes five to ten minutes to complete and all responses are confidential.  To participate, visit: https://bit.ly/SUFSurvey2026       ENDS     Notes to Editors   The Sing Up Foundation ( www.singupfoundation.org ) produces, promotes and creates opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. Through partnerships, resource development and innovation the Sing Up Foundation – explores and highlight effective practice, connects practice with research, creates research-based pilot projects to build and share knowledge and understanding and increase impact, and supports and develops the workforce and settings surrounding children and young people.  The Sing Up Foundation is Sing Up’s charitable arm focused on producing charitable activities through fundraising, partnerships and innovation. The Foundation shares in Sing Up’s goal to ensure that children and young people have opportunities to sing and make music regularly and well for all the benefits that research shows that brings, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing.   Sing Up ( www.singup.org ) is an award-winning organisation that provides resources, training and guidance to support singing and music in schools. Sing Up believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing and music at the heart of learning.     The statistics cited (84% reporting increased mental health needs, 26% feeling very prepared) come from Sing Up Foundation's 2022 website visitor survey of practitioners working in music education and children's wellbeing.  The "one in five" statistic comes from NHS Digital's Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 (wave 4 follow up to the 2017 survey). The survey found that 20.3% of 8-16 year olds had a probable mental disorder in 2023, representing a significant increase from 10.8% (one in nine) in 2017. Source: NHS Digital (2023). Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-of-children-and-young-people-in-england/2023-wave-4-follow-up   Media Contact   For press enquiries, interviews, or further information:  Email: press@singup.org Phone: 0204 566 9666  Celi Barberia and Baz Chapman, Joint Heads of Foundation, are available for interview throughout January 2026.  Images available on request.   Survey Information   Practitioner Survey Closes: 17 January 2026   Link: https://bit.ly/SUFSurvey2026

Supported by funding from Arts Council England, Sing Up Foundation has launched a new website at www.singupfoundation.org to support teachers, music leaders and all working with children and young people to use singing, songwriting and voice exploration to improve mental health and wellbeing. An ever-growing resource, the website provides advice, guidance, toolkits, video support, the latest research and more to support leaders and teachers in their work with children and young people.   In addition to a wealth of new articles, research and support, the website features a host of newly commissioned resources from experts and partners including:   A ‘Safe Spaces’ Guide  – Created by the charity Blue Cabin which supports care-experienced young people, this guide explores how to create experiences that ensure that participants and facilitators alike feel welcome, valued, understood and safe in singing and music-making sessions. ( https://www.singupfoundation.org/safe-spaces ) Beatboxing, Identity & Mental Health film series – Created by international non-binary beatboxer, disability and mental health ambassador SK Shlomo and their Breathe Academy, these inspiring films explore beatboxing and vocal exploration to support identity and mental health. ( https://www.singupfoundation.org/beatboxing-identity-mental-health ) Working in Challenging Settings Case Study – Featuring the work of Yorkshire Youth and Music at Becton Centre for Children and Young People, this inspiring case study provides a look at work with vulnerable young people in care, youth justice and health services using music to help them explore, create and express themselves. ( https://www.singupfoundation.org/working-in-challenging-settings ) Creative Vocals and ‘agency’ Research Review  – This research review conducted by Dr Douglas Lonie from research consultancy tialt looks at the evidence supporting singing, songwriting and vocal exploration and the connection to young people’s sense of ‘agency’. ( https://www.singupfoundation.org/creative-vocals-evidence ) A Guide to Singing for Mental Health and Wellbeing - Created by Emily Foulkes Trauma and Mental Health Trainer and Director of Music for Good, this guide highlights all the different types of singing activity that can be enjoyed with young people and advice for practice. ( https://www.singupfoundation.org/types-of-singing-activity-for-mental-health/ )   Over the next few months, the Sing Up Foundation website will continue to grow and develop, adding more helpful resources to support anyone working with children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The website also hosts the entire first season of Sing Up Foundation’s podcast Inspiring Voices , which explores the power of singing to transform children and young people's lives.   Baz Chapman, Joint Head of Sing Up Foundation says, “This launch of the new Sing Up Foundation website, supported with funding by Arts Council England, has allowed us to build a comprehensive platform to inspire, inform and connect anyone wanting to realise the benefits of singing and vocal exploration for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.   By continually developing content to suit our audiences, and by interacting with them, we hope to deepen the connection between the use of the voice and mental health and to increase our collective understanding. We hope that teachers, music practitioners, mental health professionals and anyone else with an interest in this work will not only find or our resources and support valuable, but will also join the conversation and help us shape the future of this valuable work.”     Notes to Editors: The Sing Up Foundation ( www.singupfoundation.org ) produces, promotes and creates opportunities for children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing through singing. Through partnerships, resource development and innovation the Sing Up Foundation – explores and highlights effective practice, connects practice with research, creates research-based pilot projects to build and share knowledge and understanding and increase impact, and supports and develops the workforce and settings surrounding children and young people.    The Sing Up Foundation is Sing Up’s charitable arm focused on producing charitable activities through fundraising, partnerships and innovation. The Foundation shares in Sing Up’s goal to ensure that children and young people have opportunities to sing and make music regularly and well for all the benefits that research shows that brings, with a particular focus on mental health and wellbeing. Foundation staff work for Sing Up and the Joint Heads of Foundation sit on Sing Up’s Senior Management Team. Likewise, two members of Sing Up’s staff, including CEO Michelle James, sit on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.   Sing Up ( www.singup.org ) is an award-winning organisation that provides resources, training and guidance to support singing and music in schools. Sing Up believes that all children and young people have a right to good quality singing provision, to deepen their understanding of music and singing, raise attainment and develop lasting tools to express themselves with confidence and creativity. With over 15 years of experience at the forefront of music education, Sing Up’s specially arranged songs, teaching tools and support put singing and music at the heart of learning.    Sing Up Foundation’s podcast Inspiring Voices  features in Feedspot’s recommended Top 10 Music Education podcasts. Through conversations with singers, leaders, researchers and other specialists, Inspiring Voices  considers the unique role of singing, songwriting, voice exploration and creative music-making in improving children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

At our recent focus group, we explored what is meant by singing for mental health and wellbeing and what makes these singing sessions distinct from others. Join in on the conversation and let us know what you think. With so many people now recognising the wider benefits of singing on mental health and wellbeing, it's wonderful that we're starting to see more and more singing groups with a focus on improving people's wellbeing. It's also clear that with more emphasis on social prescribing through the NHS, local community connectors and GP surgeries may begin recommending local singing groups to their patients to improve their mental health and wellbeing. In terms of young people, this will also hopefully cascade down through to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) with more children and young people provided with opportunities to join singing groups for their mental health and wellbeing. It's important to then start thinking about what actually makes these singing groups different? What about them and how the singing leaders lead and organise them provides a rich environment where people can feel an improvement to their mental health and wellbeing? Can we identify some of these characteristics and help to ensure when children, young people and adults attend singing sessions for their mental health and wellbeing, they can take part in a group that has the ability to do that? In April, we held a focus group with experts working in singing for mental health and wellbeing to begin to explore some of these issues. The group included, Kate Burnett, Lea Cornthwaite, Emily Foulkes, Rebecca Johnson, Rebecca Ledgard, Cindy-Jo Morrison, Chrissy Parsons-West and Dr Jeremy Sleith. It's fair to say, that from the beginning there was ample discussion regarding whether or not there actually was a difference between 'regular’ singing sessions (for lack of a better term) and singing with a view to improving mental health and wellbeing. As all of the singing leaders present had extensive experience running singing for mental health and wellbeing, many of them felt like they considered the effects on the participants' wellbeing as a natural part of their practice in all singing sessions regardless of the context. Eventually though through the discussions, the group came to agree that there is a difference. 'Regular' singing sessions were described as sessions where the musical goal is most important and where 100% of the development of the group is through music. In singing for mental health and wellbeing, the focus group felt that the leader must cater most to the emotional needs of the participants but that ultimately "music is the agent of change" and that there is less focus on technicalities and the ability of the participants. Thinking about it further, the focus group did agree on a number of key considerations to differentiate 'regular' singing sessions from singing for mental health and wellbeing . The considerations can roughly be organised into four main areas - group set up and organisation, leadership, support for the singing leader and mental health knowledge. Group Set Up and Organisation The focus group agreed that in singing for mental health, group size is critical and depending on the needs of the participants and the context, the leaders must think very carefully about ratios and what type of other support the leader may need in the room (ie pastoral support). It was also noted that structure is important to provide familiarity and comfort for the participants with some time provided in the singing sessions for social time so that participants can connect socially with the rest of the group. There was also a feeling that singing sessions for mental health and wellbeing must constitute stand-alone, complete, satisfactory sessions . This is because participants might find it difficult to regularly attend a series of sessions for any number of reasons. This also highlights the potential difficulty of making a sustained difference to hard-to-reach groups. Leadership We'd all agree that good quality vocal leadership is critical in all singing sessions but given the context of singing for mental health and wellbeing, the focus group highlighted some specific areas for leaders to bear in mind. Preparation is key and much more thought needs to go into the repertoire and content chosen for the group to sing as it's important to consider potential triggers and sensitivities of the participants. There also was a feeling that leaders need to be much more flexible and much more responsive when leading singing for mental health and wellbeing as there needs to be a plan but the leader needs to read their audience well and be brave enough to abandon the plan if necessary. Given the context, professionalism is, of course, key. Support for the singing leader Another area which was highlighted was the increased need for the leader themselves to have external support to mitigate any potential impact on their own mental health and wellbeing. There was a feeling that much greater emotional resilience is needed to deliver singing for mental health and wellbeing. Clearly, self-care is important, but there should be a duty of care from the organisers to ensure the good health and wellbeing of the singing leaders in the same way that employers would approach health and safety standards in the workplace. Depending on the settings and how challenging they may be, the leaders may also benefit from receiving some supervision and support from mental health support workers. Mental Health Knowledge Needless to say, there is a need for any one leading and delivering singing for mental health and wellbeing to have a level of awareness, knowledge and understanding of mental health . Depending on the setting, leaders may also be asked to contribute to case notes. As mentioned previously, the leaders need to have a level of awareness to help avoid triggers that may affect participants. This increased awareness should also improve a leader's ability to observe and respond to the group. Your thoughts We hope some of these ideas have inspired you to think about how you set up your singing groups. Naturally, they will spark many more questions and the discussions we had during our focus group were complex with many more ideas arising that we've still got to unpick and consider. This is very much just the beginning of an exciting journey in developing singing for mental health and wellbeing and ensuring that many more children, young people and adults can experience the life-changing benefits of singing. We'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. What are your views? Have you got experience running singing sessions for mental health and wellbeing? Do you agree with the ideas explored by our focus group? Have you got more to add? Want to know more about the benefits of singing? Check out our list of relevant research . Make sure you also subscribe to be kept in the loop about all our latest developments. Please use the comments below to join in the conversation.

Over the past few months, we have been hosting a series of focus groups exploring singing for mental health and wellbeing, bringing together experts from across the field with experience running and managing these singing sessions. We started looking at these singing sessions and getting a clear idea of what makes them different from 'regular' singing sessions. You can read up on that discussion on our blog . Following on from that, we started to explore what is needed from the leaders to deliver positive singing sessions for mental health and wellbeing. Through the conversation and thinking about their own experiences, the group decided that the characteristics, knowledge and expertise could be organised into broader personal and professional domains, ultimately thinking about what a singing leader needs to DO, KNOW and BE to deliver a positive experience when leading singing for mental health and wellbeing. We eventually organised the groups' ideas into the following and realised subsequently that they could be presented as a Leadership Schema (see the figure below). DO Practice Music Leadership Skills and Knowledge Learn repertoire thoroughly Prepare and be flexible Have wide and varied repertoire Use ice-breakers appropriately Deliver appropriately paced and pitched workshops Teach and lead groups effectively KNOW Appropriate Mental Health Awareness Awareness of mental health conditions Know clients’ triggers Have techniques and tools to deal with specific behaviours Observe (read the room) Understand the context/environment/people Trauma and mental health informed The 'DO' and 'KNOW' parts of the schema are pretty self-explanatory. The group had a lengthy discussion about the innate and learned leadership qualities that make up what has been grouped under 'BE'. When working in singing for mental health and wellbeing, given the context, the participants' needs and the purpose of the activity, there was a feeling that there really are special personal attributes that will make a leader more likely to flourish leading singing for mental health and wellbeing. It is of course important for all leaders to have some of these skills to varying degrees, but the context of the work makes some of them more critical. BE Authentic & Self-Aware Understanding Genuine interest and drive Be real/authentic Emotional intelligence/perceptive Be you! (Leave your baggage) Inclusive Non-judgemental  Do normalise the group singing experience Just sing – singing not just being ‘done’ to the group Innate Qualities Be warm and funny Sensitive – awareness of non-verbal communication Demeanour – body language Be unshockable/unphasable Have an understanding and recognition of resilience Know yourself Learned Qualities Respond sensitively to clients’ needs Be able to respond appropriately and sensitively (empathy) Be encouraging Be Resilient Be Flexible (musically and personally) Be adaptable Be patient Being part of a team Team player Organisational support for leader Change of face Knowing ‘Team Teach’  Knowing your own levels and limits Needs to be supported (self-care) Taking it further Thinking about the way the identified domains – DO, KNOW and BE – could potentially be presented, the figure above was developed. Depending on the participants’ needs and the context of the singing activity, the leader’s use of their knowledge, skills and interpersonal qualities would fluctuate between the domains themselves using their expertise to guide their practice. In other words, each leader would recognise the needs of their audience and then weight their skills appropriately towards those needs.  We could also potentially plot different contexts against the domains to help determine and recruit leaders to deliver singing for mental health and wellbeing. The group felt that this schema could be a useful and flexible tool for those commissioning singing for mental health and wellbeing and also those wanting to work in the area. Could this schema potentially help to provide a framework for recruitment or maybe help vocal leaders think about the gaps in their own knowledge and skills? Questions to think about Is this a useful tool to have? How could you use it? Do any of the circles take precedence over the others? What do you think could go in the centre of all three circles? What are your thoughts? We're keen to continue developing the conversation and would love to hear what you think. Please join in and add your comments or get in touch.

Baz Chapman and Fiona Harvey are working with the Sing Up Foundation to help create a legacy for the World Voice programme ( see our news item in November ). They talk about their work so far and the likely next steps for this important international programme. Where to start? Our initial work has focused on research and consultation – after all, it’s 8 years since the first World Voice programmes began, and a lot has happened since then! Building on Sound Connections’ excellent evaluation of World Voice , we’ve been keen to find out how things are now in those countries who engaged with the original programme, and to understand how best to support them in the future, particularly through a digital platform of songs, resources, etc. Our conversations so far have been fascinating. We’ve spoken with representatives from 10 countries: Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Lebanon, Nepal, Palestine, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. Given that all were, at the time of their initial World Voice programmes, ODA Countries (recipients of Official Development Assistance for developing countries receiving UK aid), it was unsurprising to learn that all were facing significant challenges as a result of the pandemic, and the continuation of singing in their schools has been patchy. However, the over-riding message from our conversations has been that World Voice was a transformative and hugely positive programme, whose impact and legacy lives on in some way, whether that be through World Voice songs continuing to be sung in schools, influence at national level on the place of singing within the curriculum, support for refugees, or the legacy of the visits by the World Voice trainers: “Richard Frostick was the one special key element that we probably wouldn’t have been able to do this without. It's been 6 years since we had Richard here – they still talk about him!... it was his methodology that stuck.” British Council representative, Chile As a result, there was a strong desire from all the nations we spoke with to continue World Voice in some way, even though the capacity for state schools in these countries to pay for support or resources is largely non-existent. Which poses us an interesting challenge – How to make it free? What do these nations want? In the UK, we tend to think of a digital music offer for schools as being something accessed via desktop, laptop computer, interactive whiteboard or tablet, whereas teachers in most of the schools in World Voice countries do not use, or have access to, these devices for teaching. Smartphones linked to Bluetooth speakers, and either streaming (where wifi/phone data permits) or using downloaded media files is the norm, and means that we need to approach any digital platform in quite a specific way. Most nations would want their schools to be able to access the bank of World Voice songs that were created during the programme, along with its supporting resources. There are currently insufficient funds to deploy our World Voice expert trainers around the world again, but there was strong support for the idea of creating podcasts and other forms of professional development, so that teachers and trainers in those countries could continue to develop their practice. Likewise, the networking aspects of World Voice – sharing songs and approaches across nations – was felt to be a valuable aspect of any future offer. So we will plan the legacy offer of World Voice on this basis, and are still working on how best to create a platform which is free to access by those schools who cannot afford to pay. Emerging themes In addition to our work on maintaining some sort of global membership of World Voice, there are two strong themes emerging from our research that we feel are important to address: 1. A number of World Voice countries used World Voice as a way to support young refugee and asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors. We will be channeling some of the World Voice legacy into action research in the UK to explore further how singing can be used to break down barriers and help welcome children and young people into new countries. 2. Perhaps the most significant and alarming issue arising from those countries with whom we’ve spoken has been the situation with the mental health and wellbeing of their children and young people. In the wake of the pandemic, there is anecdotal evidence of this becoming a global crisis. Whilst deeply concerning – and reflective of our situation here in the UK – this presents an opportunity for World Voice, which all the nations we’ve spoken to support. As we know, group singing has extraordinary potential to help improve mental health and wellbeing , and to support schools to bring their young people together in bonding and uplifting activities. Singing must be a part of society’s response to the pandemic, and its ability to enhance mental health and wellbeing will form a major thrust of the legacy of World Voice. Please explore our World Voice area to find out more about World Voice, download the evaluation and explore the resources, teaching videos and songs.