University of Salford via Creative Commons CC by 2.0
A project that created eight new community singing projects in deprived areas, and evaluated them using research methods grounded in community research practice, has found that choirs can have a positive impact on community wellbeing. The report, which is published by Making Music and Sound Sense and funded by the Headley Trust and the Rayne Foundation, concludes that it is possible to create sustainable singing groups in challenged communities as long as time is spent developing relationships and support from local people. It finds there is a strong case for more singing groups to be established as a cohesion and wellbeing tool, and that further research into appropriate methodologies would be valuable.