Community Singing for Adults with a Learning Disability
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An evaluation of a weekly singing group for adults with a learning disability
IRAS ID
248837
Contact name
Esther Coren
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
People with a learning disability (LD) face barriers when participating in mainstream societal activities. Barriers include accessing venues or trained staff, emotional barriers, and/or financial barrier. Exclusion leads to social isolation, loneliness, and resistance to participate in society. With an estimated 1.4 million people living with a LD in the UK, there is a drive to develop more inclusive forms of social and leisure activities for people with a LD.
Research has repeatedly shown that therapeutic music activities improve participation. There is also current evidence to suggest that music programmes benefit people with a LD in intra-personal, relational, and social ways. Involvement in these activities helps people with a LD develop confidence and self-esteem, and feelings of acceptance and success.
The current study was developed based on the success of a community LD choir called High Notes. High Notes recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, and many participants have attended since it began. Based on the principles of the High Notes Choir, and to evaluate the impact of a LD choir, an evaluation has been created by the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health (SDH) at Canterbury Christ Church University in collaboration with East Kent Mencap. The choir will be established and managed by East Kent Mencap, and evaluated by SDH. The High Notes choir facilitator has trained experienced East Kent singing facilitators, local singing-experienced choir volunteers, and 4-6 Mencap support workers, to run the choir. Once the choir is created, it will take place weekly at East Kent Mencap premises.
The primary aim of the evaluation is to examine the effects of the choir on the participants’ quality of life. Other outcomes include self-esteem, social inclusion, stigma, and life experience. Data will be collected prior to starting the choir, after six months and again at 12 months.REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
18/IEC08/0027
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion