G4S, the provider of facilities management services at Warwick Hospital, has donated £5,000 to a West Midlands choir so that children in the hospital for long or extended periods can experience the wide ranging benefits of singing through singing games. 

The scheme started this summer with specially trained vocal tutors from one of the UK’s leading choirs, Birmingham based Ex Cathedra, visiting the hospital fortnightly to deliver the award winning Singing Medicine programme so that the children and their families can enjoy singing during their stay in hospital. 

Stuart Mold, Regional Director at G4S Integrated Services said:

“As one of the region’s biggest employers, with more than 5,000 colleagues in the West Midlands, this initiative is part of G4S’ contribution not just to the region’s economic life but also to the communities where we work.

“Our work at Warwick Hospital is all about ensuring the environment is right for medical staff to give patients the best care possible.  Part of that is about helping patients, their families and staff feel happier during what can be a tremendously stressful time.  By sponsoring Singing Medicine, we can do more than look after the physical environment of the hospital and also play a part in looking after the welfare of these young people, which will hopefully, aid their recovery.”  

Chief Executive Officer of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, Glen Burley, said:

"I am really pleased that we are involved with Singing Medicine, it is a fantastic project that brings cheer to children and their families at what can often be a difficult and scary time. Support for this project is paramount and the generous donation from G4S will help ensure that more children in the future are able to benefit from Singing Medicine."  

Ex Cathedra Director of Education, Rebecca Ledgard, said:

“Ex Cathedra believes that children who are in hospital for long or regular periods are equally entitled to access to the arts as when living in their own communities.   This sponsorship from G4S will help us bring Singing Medicine, and all those wider wonderful benefits of singing, to these young people and their families during what can be a most difficult time.”

Vikki Dudley, from Stratford-on-Avon whose teenage daughter, Lauren is a patient at the hospital said:

“It’s the first time she has smiled since she came into hospital three days ago - the sessions really helped to relax Lauren and made her happy.”

G4S has entirely funded Ex Cathedra to deliver Singing Medicine at Warwick Hospital and has sponsored the programme at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital since 2012, where the company also looks after the facilities management.

About Ex Cathedra

Ex Cathedra is one of the UK’s leading choirs and is based in Birmingham.  The choir is the only choir in Arts Council England’s portfolio and has an award-winning and one of the largest education programme of any musical organisation in the country.  The choir has an international reputation for its performances and 2013 will see Ex Cathedra perform in Antwerp, Bavaria, Seville and New York.  

Benefits to singing including developing deeper breathing which aids healing and prevents infection, as well as being relaxing and providing a feel-good factor.  All parts of the brain are used so it is good stimulation, oxytocin (the bonding-with-others hormone) is released when singing, coping mechanisms and distraction techniques are developed.  Children are able to make decisions in the games, which is often a great relief as often in hospital all control over their day is removed, and helps with personal and social development through singing play.