Members of a Liverpool-based choir that welcomes people with lived experiences of homelessness and marginalisation have described the charity as their “salvation”.
The Choir with No Name has been bringing people together since it was founded in 2014. Since then it has created a safe space where members can form friendships and build their confidence in a supportive group in a place where they can confide in others with the same lived experiences.
Rehearsals are held weekly in Quaker House, the city centre of Liverpool, where anybody is welcome to join in the activities. The choir practices, enjoy a shared meal and socialise together.
(credits – Elizabeth Patten)
Members of the choir told Mersey News Live that the weekly meetings have often helped them, especially through tough times.
Steven Daily, 59, described the choir as a turning point in his life. He said: “It basically saved my life to tell you the truth.”
“I don’t think I’d be here anymore without the choir really.”
He also spoke about how being a part of the choir helped him discover his confidence, “We do some brilliant gigs and I do solos! I was totally shocked doing solos.”
David Collins, 67 echoed the same sense of belonging “It’s like a family, they put you at your ease straight away.”
“The good thing about it is, I’ve got mental health issues as I suffer with depression. People here have either been through or have experienced something similar so you can get expert advice.”
“I think of it now as more as a salvation.”
The choir perform big gigs throughout the year for members to show off their voices, delivering harmonious renditions of well-known songs. Their latest concert was the “Big Christmas sing-along’ which was held at the Tung Auditorium.
For Peter Cousins, 53, the choir has helped him grow both on and off the stage. He said: “It has helped me with my public performing; I even sing on the bus I don’t care if anyone is watching or listening.”
“People are here to support you; I think you need a good friend circle in life.”
“Being part of a group is something bigger than anyone’s self, it’s a very humbling experience actually.”
The choir with no name continues to work hard in the city welcoming a sense of community to those who need it most.
Poem written by Peter Cousins, A Choir with No Name member:
I Joined the choir with no name nearly two ago
It’s always exciting whether we are rehearsing or taking part in a show
Mersey and all the team are so good at making us feel special and really great
as too all our wonderful volunteers who put a dinner on our plate
Our choir is so welcoming, and it builds our confidence and self esteem
It aids in people’s recovery journey and allows us all to dream
We are well received wherever we all go and it’s a big thanks to the Quaker team
It’s a great community space where we are all allowed to grow
Am proud to be a member of the choir with no name
Where we are all made to feel worthy with no need to feel embarrassed or nervous or any sense of shame
As singing while we are winning is all a part of our game
Marvelous, wonderful, boss, cool, and great are just a few words if I was to put.
Our choir is so welcoming, and it builds our confidence and self esteem
It aids in people’s recovery journey and allows us all to dream
We are well received wherever we all go and it’s a big thanks to the Quaker team
It’s a great community space where we are all allowed to grow
Am proud to be a member of the choir with no name
Where we are all made to feel worthy with no need to fell embarrassed or nervous or any sense of shame
As singing while we are winning is all a part of our game
Marvelous, wonderful, boss, cool, and great are just a few words if I was to put a name to our choir in my own words.
We are the choir with no name singing and growing together we come from near and afar united in harmony in cheer and in song
As it’s in our practice it’s in our rehearsal in perfecting our performance
In finding within each other a place where we truly belong x
