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In celebration of the NHS 70th anniversary, we’re delighted to sponsor a key social prescribing event located in the same city where the first NHS hospital opened its doors. On Sunday 08 July the Whitworth Hall at the University of Manchester, will be filled with professional choirs and a free singing extravaganza to celebrate the NHS turning 70.

Singing in the City will consist of sixteen fabulous, fun and infectious performances with a mass performance of a new song specially commissioned to commemorate this important NHS 70, We Will Overcome.

Jennifer Neff, Elemental Co-Founder said, ‘We’re extremely excited to sponsor Singing in the City. This event offers a unique opportunity to highlight the positive impact that non-clinical care can make to people’s lives. These activities connect people into their community, which is a pivotal point in managing their health and wellbeing.’

Promoting participation

The event, which is designed for health and care staff, patients, caregivers and the public aims to encourage greater engagement with singing to capitalise on the numerous emotional and physical benefits that can be gained through participation. It is a direct response to an emerging evidence base demonstrating the incredible value of non-clinical interventions to promote wellbeing and recovery, social prescribing. Singing in the City also highlights the value of cultural interventions to promote health and wellbeing and how workplace and community choirs can and do make a huge difference.

Research indicates the benefits of singing range from enhanced respiratory functioning and a consequent reduction in the need for rescue inhalers, to huge improvements in consumptive conditions and positive mental wellbeing. Singing promotes the release of endorphins to help fight pain, improves posture and enhances mood whilst reducing anxiety and boosting the immune system. Above all else the act of singing brings people together and fosters new social networks and relationships. It helps build a sense of community and connects us.

Singing for wellbeing

NHS England, the Innovation Agency and Voluntary Sector North West, the regional voluntary sector network and the North West social prescribing agency have joined forces with the Whitworth and the MACC to build a highly successful model promoting singing for wellbeing. Singing in the City brings together NHS workplace and community choirs to showcase their work to each other and the public in order to encourage new people to get involved in singing.

Project lead and co-chair of NHS England’s North West social prescribing network Jo Ward added, ‘We believe singing can provide an important platform to build wellbeing and aid recovery. It is official, singing is good for you. It helps you stay well whilst supporting recovery and it importantly it helps to start to put people in control of their own wellbeing. So we want to get more people singing together. What better way to do this than showcasing ordinary people delivering extraordinary performances through a free celebratory concert featuring all kinds of choirs and song.’