Helping to support people with communication difficulties after stroke to sing together!
Bath Aphasia Choir
We’re looking for Session Volunteers!
The Bath Aphasia Choir is run by music therapists and supports people with aphasia (communication difficulties after stroke or brain injury) and their loved ones to sing together. We meet weekly on Wednesday afternoons in term time, but you would not have to commit to every session.
Our fantastic volunteers (some of whom are carers for members of the choir) help with setting up the room, welcoming members, making and serving refreshments, collecting donations and facilitating conversations between our members.
We are also keen to hear from volunteers who could play alongside the choir, help with admin between sessions and people with an eye for photography and videography.
This role would be particularly of interest for volunteers interested in music therapy, speech and language therapy or stroke rehabilitation.
Time commitment and location
We are based at St Andrew’s Community Church, Hawthorn Grove, Foxhill, Bath BA2 5QA. 2.5 hours per week (1.30 – 4.00 pm) on Wednesday afternoons in term time.
Occasional performances outside of this time (usually Saturday afternoons twice per year). Please do apply even if you would not be able to attend every session.
Skills Description
You would need to feel confident in supporting adult stroke survivors and carers/family members, but training can be given around aphasia and supported conversation so direct experience is not required. Volunteers will need to be patient, open and empathetic and have good listening skills. An interest in singing and music would be helpful but enthusiasm is key! We welcome volunteers with lived experience of stroke, brain injury, communication difficulties, disability, caring and neurodivergence.
What’s in it for you?
You will have the chance to meet and support an amazing group of talented singers, who find talking and communicating difficult but can sing and learn songs brilliantly. Our choir is internationally known and we regularly perform in and around Bath and has been covered on local and national TV and radio.
Evidence shows that singing in a group can raise mood and reduce stress levels. Our warm up exercises can help to strengthen and maintain your speaking and singing voice and alongside the choir members you will learn new songs and sing familiar ones.
You can learn more about stroke and aphasia, music therapy and speech and language therapy. There may be opportunities in future to get involved in the running of our charity, Voices of Aphasia, as a Trustee.
Accessibility and support
We welcome disabled volunteers – many of our group members are disabled and both our choir leaders live with chronic health conditions/invisible disabilities. The choir venue has flat access throughout with accessible parking and toilet available.
Funding is available for taxi and travel transport for volunteers if they are not able to drive or travel by public transport to the venue.
Volunteers are welcome to attend as little or often as they like, and to take breaks as
needed. Our choir members sit during rehearsals so there is no need to stand.
We are proud to be neurodiversity affirming practitioners and our choir leader is autistic and has ADHD. We would be able to discuss any sensory needs and accommodations and welcome neurodivergent volunteers.
We welcome people with disabilities, stroke and brain injury survivors and those with lived experience of caring roles. We welcome people from all cultures and backgrounds.
We would be happy to have a conversation with new volunteers about specific access requirements to ensure their specific access needs can be met. Please also let us know about any food allergies or dietary requirements so that we can ensure suitable and safe refreshments are provided.
Start date: open all year round