Hello and welcome to the Singing for Health Network - a UK-based membership network for anyone interested or involved in Singing for Health. Our aim is to bridge research and practice and provide a platform for sharing between practitioners and researchers.
This Network is not seeking to replicate the work of existing networks in the field of arts and health, but to build on - and signpost to - existing provision and provide a useful platform for practitioners and researchers and anyone interesting in finding out more about Singing for Health. We want to help those researching Singing for Health and to support new and emerging voices as well as established researchers/practitioners.
We are delighted to be supported by a range of partners and experts in the field of Singing for Health. We’d like to thank Dr Stephen Clift for his support and advice so far and will be looking forward to his input to the network. We also want to thank Sonia Price at Canterbury Christchurch University for her help and support with the survey we conducted in 2020. Dr Daisy Fancourt has expressed her support and will be sharing some of her thoughts on Singing for Health on the network. Thank you to all the contributors so far. As we evolve and grow, we will be pleased to welcome all supporters and partners, from education, health and the arts.
And if this all sounds useful, then do join the network as a member and make use of our news, resources and events.
The Core Team
Emily Foulkes (Artistic and Content Manager)
Emily is the Director of Cymaz Music, a music for well-being charity in Cornwall. She has worked in music and well-being for more than 20 years, having previously worked for the National Foundation for Youth Music in the Policy and Programmes department, and worked with the team at Youth Music to secure funding which led to her lead on the setting up and managing of national programmes and networks.
Emily is a Singing for Health practitioner, researcher, trainer and consultant. She has developed a Singing for Health programme in Cornwall, securing funds for a Singing Clinic programme with Social Prescribing and NHS funding to work in acute care. She received a bursary for her MA with Voice Workshop and completed research in Singing for Health.
The idea for the Singing for Health Network emerged through conversations and consultation with colleagues across the UK and Emily was delighted to receive Lottery funding in 2020 in order to set up the Network.
Baz Chapman (Network Manager)
Baz Chapman is an arts and education consultant, programme manager and facilitator. He was previously Programme Director for Sing Up, the Government’s National Singing Programme for Primary Schools, and Regional Director for Teaching Leaders. He is co-founder and General Manager of the National Teachers’ Choir, and other current roles include Events Development Manager for Sing for Pleasure, Coordinator of the Artslink programme for Children in Care, and choral arranger for The People’s Orchestra and Show Choir. www.bazchapman.org.uk
Dr Amy Mallett (Research & Evaluation Manager)
Amy Mallett is a composer, community practitioner and arts-health researcher having worked as a creative health professional with a range of Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations, including Britten Pears Arts, DanceEast and English National Ballet.
Amy champions artistry, quality and co-creation within participatory arts work and is a founder member of CARVE coLAB; an artist collective making performance work with people living with Parkinson's. As a researcher, she is interested in creativity as a catalyst for change and growth, and is currently researching into integrating accessibility within the creative process. www.amymallettmusic.com
Dr Jo Erwin (Research & Evaluation Manager)
Jo has a background in public health, is a researcher in musculoskeletal health at Royal Cornwall Hospital and is the evaluator and researcher for our Singing Clinic programme in Cornwall. Jo is an avid singer in a few different choirs and singing groups in Cornwall and advocates for the power of singing to promote health and well-being.
Please get in touch if you would like to become a partner or would like to discuss contributing content to the website. We are seeking case studies from a range of Singing for Health projects across the UK, from a variety of perspectives.
