Big Give, Big Impact: £11,090 Raised for our Chorus of Hope in Support of Young Refugees

We're thrilled to announce that our recent fundraising drive as part of the Big Give Arts for Impact Match-Funding Campaign for Chorus of Hope: Singing with Young Refugees and Displaced Children raised an incredible £11,090! This remarkable achievement was only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters who believe in the transformative power of music, along with the match funded support provided by the Big Give platform and New Philanthropy for Arts and Culture.

Thanks to our supporters

We want to express our deepest thanks to everyone who contributed to this campaign whether by donating or by sharing with your friends. Your support means so much as it represents a shared belief in creating safe spaces where young refugees can find their voice, build connections, and heal through the universal language of music.

We'd also like to extend special thanks to Sempre, the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research who donated £5,000 in support of this project too.

What is Chorus of Hope?

For those new to our initiative, Chorus of Hope: Singing with Young Refugees and Displaced Children is an innovative program designed to harness the transformative power of singing to support displaced children and young refugees. Through vocal workshops, community singing groups, and specialised training, we're building a nationwide network that boosts the wellbeing of young refugees through the joy of singing together.

How Your Donations Will Make a Difference

The £11,090 raised through the Big Give Arts for Impact Campaign will directly support:

• Therapeutic singing sessions for displaced children and young people

• Training for specialised music practitioners across the UK

• Developing evidence-based resources and teaching methods

• Creating safe spaces for cultural expression

• Breaking down language barriers through the universal language of music

• Conducting further research on the impact of singing on young refugees' wellbeing

The Impact of Singing on Refugee Wellbeing

Our recent research has shown that singing can provide significant benefits for young refugees, including:

• Reduced anxiety and stress

• Improved sense of belonging and community

• Enhanced language acquisition

• Increased confidence and self-expression

• Development of cross-cultural connections

To learn more about our findings, check out our recently published report, 'Then the Dream Started to be More: Singing and Music-Making with Refugee Children and Unaccompanied Minors'.

Singing with Refugees: Inspiring Voices

We recently released a podcast episode featuring a conversation with Dr Hala Jaber, lead researcher of our report and Jim Pinchen, Musician and Lead Facilitator exploring their work and the impact of singing and music making on young refugees and their communities, offering moving insights into this work.

You can now listen to the podcast episode on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or your favourite podcast platform. You can also watch the episode on Youtube.

Join Our Chorus

The Big Give campaign may have ended, but our work continues. Here's how you can stay involved:

• Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on Chorus of Hope

• Share our story with others who might be interested in supporting our work

• Follow us on social media for daily inspiration and updates

Looking Ahead

With this first tranche of funding secured, we're meeting with partners to begin work on this project and will keep you updated on our progress in the coming months.

Thank you again for helping us bring music, connection, and hope to young refugees. Together, we're creating a chorus of hope that will change lives.

If you or anyone you know would like to get in touch to discuss the Chorus of Hope please Contact Us. We're also continuing to take further contributions to support our ambitious three-year project.