We’ve been working with colleagues at Swell Music CIC, A+L UK, The Musical Breath, in the NHS (such as those based in local Pulmonary Rehabilitation services) and local Breathe Easy support groups to establish and develop a N&W SfLH Network.
Aims
The aims for the network are to:
– Increase the number of trained SfLH Practitioners in the area.
– Develop a network of SfLH Practitioners who can provide cover and support for each other and help ensure local SfLH/’Singing for Breathing’ groups can run more consistently.
– Increase the number of regular SfLH/’Singing for Breathing‘ groups offered across the region.
– Be able to help more people who experience breathlessness due to diagnosed lung conditions or other physical/mental health conditions.
Find out more about Singing for Breathing sessions and how they can help.
What’s Happening?
We are maintaining a list of trained SfLH Practitioners across Norfolk and Waveney and offering opportunities for peer-support and learning, plus cover during any periods of holidays or sickness.
We are offering experienced singing tutors/community choir leaders, who are interested training as SfLH Practitioners, the opportunity to shadow a qualified and experienced Singing for Breathing session leader at our existing groups. This helps people start to ‘learn on the job’ in lieu of completing official training via The Musical Breath. Trainees are finding this incredibly helpful!
Offering the above, provides opportunities for trainees (or any interested parties/health professionals and potential referrers) to see what happens during a Singing for Breathing session. It helps them understand the differences between SfLH/Singing for Breathing sessions and other general community choir/singing groups and helps them learn the techniques required to adapt existing practices as necessary.
Our work is already helping new people to get started! And it’s helping build relationships amongst Practitioners for ongoing support, cover and knowledge-sharing going forward. We currently have 4 people currently training or on the list for the next round.
We are helping trainees acquire bursaries via A+L UK for the training and helping them set up new group. We’ve been paying some expenses towards them attending our sessions, where funds have allowed. We have fundraised to help provide some assurance that Practitioners can get paid work once they’ve committed to the training (i.e. by taking on some of our groups or offering opportunities to provide cover).
Thanks to recent National Lottery grants we are now in a position to plan sessions with confidence over the next few years! This is a major boost and a real step-change for the services we offer. We now have 2 regular groups established in North Norfolk and 2 starting in South Norfolk this coming June. One of our new recruits, Nicky Childerhouse, is leading the sessions in South Norfolk. Nicky is also the Co-ordinator for the N&W SfLH Network.
See our Singing for Breathing page for more details about current groups and contact us with any queries. Groups are also being offered in the Lowestoft area by Helen Barnes of Swell Music CIC.
Watch this space for further developments!
Page last updated 9th May 2024 (TB).