The Feelgood Choir, 9 years later…

On a warm, Wednesday evening in late April, I stepped into DY1 in Dudley to a tremendous welcome from the Feelgood Choir, 9 years after first working with the gang to help them become a voluntary group.

Back in January, a lovely lady called Georgina got in touch to ask about what support we could offer. Georgina, the choir’s chairperson, explained that the choir got together to improve people’s mental health, wellbeing, confidence and sense of connection. Unfortunately, the choir had lost a few members recently and was looking for some support to do a membership drive to help keep it going for the next ten years.

I was so pleased to hear from the choir and was happy to offer support to them again. Over the following weeks and months, I met committee members Georgina, Irene and Carole to help them think about how the choir might appeal to new members, get out into the community and sustain itself, resulting in a short plan which would form the basis of a funding application.

Like with many groups, the twin challenges of fewer members and rising costs threatened their survival, so we explored some ways the group could become more sustainable as well as applying to some funders who might be interested in their work. I was really impressed by how the group navigated the pandemic, continuing to meet on Zoom during the toughest restrictions and then meeting in open spaces when that was allowed. What came across from our meetings was a group that not only got together to sing, but a community that looked out for each other.

And this impression struck me again that Wednesday, when I went to visit them at one of their rehearsals. I was early (for a change!) and turned up while the committee was still meeting. Georgina welcomed me and introduced me to the committee members. As they continued with their meeting, they asked about one member who’s currently unwell and made arrangements to sing at the funeral of one of their other members. It was obvious that this is a group whose members genuinely care about each other.

Over the course of the evening, I met and sang with the choir and chatted with a few of the members who told me what the choir meant to them. The repeated refrains of friendship, community and family were a pleasure to hear. They would love to welcome new people and spread their joy of communal singing even further!

I was really chuffed to meet Jan again, one of the founders of the Feelgood Choir who I worked with 9 years ago to set the choir up with its committee and constitution. Growing out of a Dudley Mind (now Black Country Mental Health) project, the choir became independent when funding cuts threatened its future. Back then I helped the group to get set up, plan its work and apply for a grant from Awards for All to give it a kick start! It’s wonderful that the choir has run itself so well for all these years and the fact that Jan and other founding members are still there tells me that it’s a place you make lifelong connections.

Jan and me, then and now!

The Feelgood Choir meets on Wednesday evening (6.15pm) at DY1 in Dudley. It’s £5 a week and you can pay as you go. The choir also performs out in the community and in places like care homes and community events. They organise social events and trips too. They’re informal and lighthearted and don’t have auditions – anyone who wants to join in is welcome, I guarantee it!

Let’s see if we can drum up some numbers! And wish us luck for some funding success for the choir over the next couple of months so Feelgood Choir can be around for the next 9 years and beyond!