Look Ahead and The Choir with No Name join forces to launch London homeless ‘superchoir’

Look Ahead and The Choir with No Name are delighted to announce a new partnership to launch a central London choir for homeless and marginalised people in the capital.

The Choir with No Name has been running choirs for people who’ve experienced homelessness in London for the past ten years. They have recently merged their two existing London choirs into a single ‘superchoir’ and moved to a new home at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church on Shaftesbury Avenue. They rehearse weekly followed by a hot meal together, and perform at a wide variety of venues across the city throughout the year.

The partnership sees Look Ahead employing part-time Choir Manager, Ryan Burke, who brings years of experience running homeless accommodation services. As well as day to day management of the choir rehearsals, performances and volunteers, more importantly he’ll provide choir members with direct personal support, signposting and access to Look Ahead’s and other homelessness support services.

The Choir with No Name will continue to do what they do best – the music. Talented choir director Sam Chaplin will lead the choir at rehearsals, gigs and outreach singing workshops, ensuring they reach their full musical potential. The choir currently has over 80 members, who are offered the opportunity to make friends, grow in confidence and sing away their worries in a safe and non-judgmental environment, empowering them to flourish as individuals and get back on their feet.

Guy Robinson, Director of Housing and Support at Look Ahead said:

“Look Ahead has over 40 years experience of homelessness services working across London and the South East. The partnership with the Choir with No Name is a perfect fit for us and we are looking forward to reaching out to more people who would benefit from the joys of singing in London through our new partnership.”

Marie Benton, founder and Chief Executive of The Choir with No Name said:

“We have counted Look Ahead as a close ally in London over the years and we are delighted to now launch our London superchoir with them. The weekly service we provide for choir members will remain just as brilliant, but our members will now have easier access to a wider range of essential services.”

Anyone who is homeless or vulnerable is welcome to come along to rehearsal:
Every Thursday at 6.30 pm with a free hot meal served afterwards.
Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8EP.

To join or book the London choir, contact Ryan on ryanburke@lookahead.org.uk
or visit www.choirwithnoname.org/choirs/london-choir

-ENDS-

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About The Choir with No Name:

The Choir with No Name (CWNN) runs choirs for people who have experienced homelessness and marginalisation. Our aim is to enable members to make friends, build their confidence and skills and re-establish their place in the world. Whether they have been homeless, have a mental health problem or are otherwise struggling, we give them a safe, positive and supportive environment in which to sing away their worries, have fun and flourish as individuals.

Our first choir – in North London - was founded in 2008 by Marie Benton, a professional musician and at the time also a senior project worker at homeless accommodation provider St Mungo’s. That first choir became a huge success, and since then we have established further choirs in London, Liverpool and Birmingham with a new choir launching in Brighton in 2018.

The Choir with No Name is registered charity no. 1136173, Company no. 06764584

CONTACT: Rachel Clare | rachel@choirwithnoname.org |t: 020 7202 6648

For more information, please visit choirwithnoname.org

Twitter: @choirwithnoname | facebook.com/choirwithnoname

About Look Ahead Care and Support:
Look Ahead supports thousands of people across London and the South East with a diverse range of needs, helping them to make individual choices, achieve goals and take control of their own lives through tailor-made support, care and accommodation services.

Whether it’s working with someone to achieve a positive change or providing specialist care, Look Ahead’s experienced and passionate teams are committed to delivering high quality services they would be proud for their loved ones to receive.

Look Ahead is a registered society under Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014: No. 21004R. Registered under the Homes and Communities Agency: No. LH0013

CONTACT: Frances Redpath | francesredpath@lookahead.org.uk |t: 020 368 4850

For more information, please visit lookahead.org.uk

Twitter: @lookaheadtweets