The Big Sing

Our Charity

Making music accessible for everyone in the community

soul

Power in the Community

  • Over £150K raised since 2017
  • Delivered 160 projects
  • Providing FREE singing workshops benefitting over 15,000 vulnerable children and adults 

We are proud to share that since our charity began in 2017 we have collectively raised sufficient funds in excess of over £150K and delivered 160 projects providing FREE singing workshops benefitting over 15,000 vulnerable children and adults enabling schools, nurseries, disabled groups, disadvantaged groups, care homes and people from all areas of our community to get singing! – now that’s ‘Power in the Community’.

We now offer FREE online music resources so we can reach vulnerable groups in every community, wherever you are.

The BIG Sing SOUL, which stands for ‘Singing, Outreach, Unity and Love’, is an extension of The BIG Sing vision and enables us to generate funding for vulnerable groups with financial freedom.

We want to capture what’s been created by The BIG Sing and take it to those who can’t get to a community choir, giving everyone an opportunity to sing motivating songs when they may not have considered it before and to enjoy the therapeutic qualities singing has.

Our aiM

To provide uplifting, inspirational and motivational singing workshops to be accessible to vulnerable groups of children and adults to bring them the joy of singing together.

Our vision

To reach out to every area of the community where The BIG Sing currently are with our charity

Our Mission

SOUL stands for:
Singing – improve the health and wellbeing of others by singing positive and uplifting songs making people feel happier, relieve suffering and reduce depression.
Outreach – to take music and singing opportunities to those that cannot attend a Community choir by providing singing tutors to teach, inspire and value everyone regardless of age, race, culture, religion, financial constraint, disadvantage or vulnerability.
Unity – bring communities together as one to achieve social inclusion.

Love – inspire people bringing them joy through music by sharing the love and passion for singing

please can you help us raise £25,000?

  1. We need £10,000 to set up 8 NEW daytime choirs FREE for those vulnerable in 8 NEW communities.
  2. We need £12,000 to host 3 school concerts to unite the Primary School children across 3 counties to perform what they have learnt with our FREE schools singing resources.
  3. We need £3,000 to provide FREE Intergenerational singing workshops, uniting nurseries and care homes to sing.

Simply hold your camera over the QR code and click on the crowdfunding link or click on the button below. 

What's happening this month

DECEMBER

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE

  • 12 amazing hampers to win
  • Tickets £1.00 each or £5.00  for 6
  • Draw  21 Dec
Raffle Christmas 2021

FREE CHRISTMAS CONCERTS

  • FREE 30-minute YouTube videos of wonderful familiar songs people will love, from ‘Singing in the rain’, We’ll Meet Again’, along with festive cheer ‘Joy to the World’, ‘Away in a Manger’ and of course ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’ plus many more. 

SAVE ON SENDING CHRISTMAS CARDS

  • SAVE ON PAPER AND STAMPS   join our choir members who have opted to donate to our charity instead of sending Christmas Cards-we will use the funds to send online resources and choirs into care homes to bring them some festive cheer

What we do

Workshops

The charity will take our experienced tutors into schools, nurseries, hospitals, and any groups supporting those with disabilities and learning needs, as well as other vulnerable groups to teach them positive, uplifting songs to help those who need our music the most.
In 4 years we have delivered the following face to face projects:
70

schools 

47

pre-schools and nurseries

39

Other projects including:

Stroke Groups, Hospitals, Learning, sensory and
physical disabilities groups, Homeless Groups & Daytime Choirs

Our current face to face groups are suspended due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Find out how you can benefit from our FREE online resources.

Our Online Resources

Never has there been a more critical time to stay connected and reach out to those in the community to use music to support mental health and wellbeing.

Despite a significant reduction in income as a result of all face to face opportunities for fundraising being suspended, we’ve been able to adapt our services quickly and continue to serve not only those areas where we have a BIG Sing choir but reach all counties in the UK with our online music resources creating sustainability and continued support to vulnerable adults and children.

Flexible to use when you want, where you want, individually, in groups, face to face or virtually it’s a product to keep year after year

900

schools
48
pre-schools / nurseries / vulnerable families
50

Senior Groups

FREE!

Throughout the pandemic we have provided FREE Online School Resources to over 700 schools across the UK and abroad.

We have 8 songs all taught via YouTube video for teachers to use in classroom to meet COVID restrictions. Featuring Makaton, body percussion and actions, the videos have full teaching of each song. With full lesson plans the teacher can pause and rewind and keep their students singing. Aimed at Primary School children and can be adapted to suit each Year group. Includes links to send home for remote learning or extra practice. Flexible to use when you want, where you want, across the whole school in group size of your choice and a product to keep year after year.

The resources are totally FREE as they are funded by a Culture Recovery Grant from The Arts Council England.  Click FIND OUT MORE and apply.                                                                           

#HereForCulture

Each week we visit schools across the UK to give them free singing tuition through our new Charity The BIG Sing SOUL.

Dida Burrell, head teacher at Maldon Primary, said: “Children have been dragged out of their shell into the limelight and loved every minute. The smiles on their faces at the concert lit up the room and left the adults glassy eyed with pride.”

Tollesbury head teacher, Kate Garrett added: “It has been a brilliant ten weeks. The children have thoroughly enjoyed themselves and their self-confidence has grown so much. The passion and enthusiasm that the teacher brought to the lessons each week was so lovely to witness.”

We’ve been singing with children for ten years as our leader Gemma Francis explains ‘We started singing with kids after we identified the need to get our children singing uplifting music. “If you look at the pop music industry it is getting darker and darker. Lyrics are becoming more sexualised, materialistic and about greed. I felt compelled to find songs that kids should be singing. We want to capture what we have created and take it to those who can’t come to us, giving more people in our community an opportunity to sing motivating songs when they may not have considered it before.”

We are looking for schools to jump on board with our NEW project taking uplifting and positive music to children – getting them singing and feeling good and giving them a great performance opportunity!

TESTIMONIALS

Babies and toddlers age 0-4 years

Our baby/toddler choirs ‘The TINY Sing’ which have been running for the past 6 years have shown us that by getting children to sing at an early age they are encouraged to express themselves and feel more confident before they start school.
8 x 30 minute videos led by expert tutors with fun jazzed up nursery rhymes, like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and This Little Light of Mine, modern pop tunes and our own funky self-penned songs plus warm ups and bubble songs the children will love which encourage rolling, tapping, clapping and moving to the beat with suggested instruments to shake, rattle and wave.

The resources are totally FREE as they are funded by grants from Tesco Bags of Help Scheme and CO-OP Community Foundation.  Click FIND OUT MORE for more details or go straight to APPLY NOW and get the children you support singing!                                                                           

FREE!

We have a FREE programme of music resources to underpin Early Years Foundation Stage for all UK Pre-Schools, Nurseries, Community groups looking after babies and children age 0-4 years as well as groups supporting vulnerable families like Home-Start, Barnardos, Action for children. 

DO YOU SUPPORT BABIES AND CHILDREN AGE 0-4 YEARS?

Our online resources are not limited to pre-schools and nurseries. They are also great for face to face groups or using in virtual sessions (e.g. Zoom) to connect with vulnerable families that cannot attend face to face groups, so they too can stay connected and avoid isolation. If you support babies and children age 0-4 years then you can apply for our FREE resources too!

Following a trial with Home-Start Essex these resources are now available to all groups throughout the UK supporting children and vulnerable families.

Home Start Essex Testimonial:
“Thank you so much for helping us with this project, our families really enjoyed all the instrument packs and who knows, maybe we have some future popstars in the making.”

The BIG Sing Sing-Along for Seniors and those living with Dementia

Music improves health and wellbeing as it aids memory recall, encourages participation and brings joy. Introducing our Sing-Along video led by our expert tutor to bring you some upbeat music to connect with your seniors and your dedicated teams of carers.

A FREE 30-minute YouTube video of wonderful familiar songs your residents will love, from ‘We’ll Meet Again’, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, ‘Jail House Rock’ to The Supremes ‘Baby Love’ plus many more. You can join in with the BIG Sing tutor or sit back, relax and enjoy the singing.

big sing soul daytime choirs IN ESSEX

FREE SINGING FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY 

Do you love SINGING? Does music make you HAPPY?  Do you want to meet new people and make new friends?

Come and join The BIG Sing as we are opening our BRAND new daytime choirs in HALSTEAD and GREAT DUNMOW

They are choirs with a difference! A great opportunity to learn new songs, connect with members of your community and have some time for YOU!

No fees, no auditions and tickets are FREE but please pre-book so we know you are coming.

Halstead’s BIG Sing SOUL FREE Daytime Choir

Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, Halstead, CO9 2BY
Tuesday mornings (except 1st Tuesday every month)

10 til 12 noon

UPCOMING DATES 

March 14, 21, 28: April 11, 18, 25: May 9, 16, 23, 30: June 13, 20, 27: July 11, 18, 25.

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE BIG SING DIRECTORS  GEMMA AND HOWARD FRANCIS 

Open to everyone but you may relate to one of these…

  • Do you work shifts and can’t get to an evening choir?
  • Maybe you have a disability and find evening transport tricky or fear the dark and need daytime activities?
  • Are you a parent who cannot leave your children at night but can spare a few hours in the day to be YOU not mum or dad! Bring the children with you – they are welcome and we have space for babies and tots with musical instruments so they can join in too!
  • Are you retired and looking for things to do during the day that will keep you connected in the community and create new friendships
  • Whatever your reason our daytime choirs welcome everyone in the community age 16+

SEE WHAT OUR SOUL DAYTIME CHOIR MEMBERS SAY ABOUT THEIR VIRTUAL SINGING REHEARSALS!

Great Dunmow’s BIG Sing SOUL FREE Daytime Choir

The Maltings, 11 Mill Lane, Great Dunmow, CM6 1BG
Wednesday afternoons (except first Wednesday of every month) 

Wednesdays 12:30 til 2:30pm

UPCOMING DATES

March 8, 15, 22, 29: April 12, 19, 26: May 10, 17, 24, 31: June 14, 21, 28: July 12, 19, 26.

Listen to what our BIG Singers say about the benefits of joining our choirs

Are you a parent who needs some ME time? Our daytime choirs welcome you with or without the kids.

Are you retired, or just got time on your hands? 

Do you have health problems or disabilities which make evening choirs a challenge or d’you just hate going out in the dark? 

Do you work shifts, or work from home and need a break from your desk? 

REHEARSAL GUIDELINES BIG SING SOUL DAYTIME CHOIRS

Here are our guidelines for attending BIG Sing SOUL Rehearsals:

1) Please book online – this is so we know how many of you are coming and also acts as our emergency list should we need to evacuate the premises. If you have problems booking online then please email info@big-sing.com and we will help find a solution.

2) Lyrics – we are now paperless. So please download your lyrics to your devices or print off at home. If you need help with this just email admin@bigsingsoul.org.uk.

3) Respect – everyone is welcome at our rehearsals – please treat everyone you meet with respect and politeness.

4) Please book up as soon as you know you can make it to a rehearsal so we know how many to expect.

Reviewed September 2022

How to get involved

We largely rely on the support from individual donors, trusts, foundations and corporate sponsorship. Read more below about how you can help give the therapeutic benefits of singing to a vulnerable adult or child. 

FUNDRAISE
Would you like to raise funds for our charity by holding an event or doing an activity? Whether it’s a sponsored walk, marathon, cake sale or a daring Skydive talk to us about how we can support your event with sponsorship forms and promoting it.

MARCH
- Golden Song Workshops


Congratulations and a MASSIVE well done to Essex and Warwickshire BIG Sing Choirs for raising over £344 from the sale of refreshments and entering our raffle 👏👏👏❤️

Other ways to get involved


AMAZONSMILE
Every time you shop on Amazon you can donate to our charity. Simply click on the link below and select Imagine the Day Limited as your chosen charity as they manage the administration of our charity The BIG Sing SOUL and agree to give any donations from AmazonSmile to support our cause. It’s free to register and you just spend what you would have done, so no extra cost to you, but a donation to us!

GIVEASYOULIVE
Did you know you can raise money for our charity simply by joining Give as You Live, it’s free to register and you just spend what you would have done, so no extra cost to you, but a donation to us! Whether it’s high street retailers, booking a trip away or insurance, you can raise money for The BIG Sing SOUL with every online purchase you make and it’s completely FREE!

DONATE
Music benefits everyone, as early as babies in their mother’s womb to those living with dementia.
Our work in the community is reliant on the generosity of supporters like you.
Every penny given counts towards making our music accessible and FREE to vulnerable adults and children in your community,
If you are able to make a donation, simply click on the button below.

If you’d like to donate by post, simply send a cheque made payable to The BIG Sing SOUL, to 6 Highlands Drive, Maldon, Essex CM9 6HX.

SPREAD THE WORD 

We want to reach more beneficiaries. One of the easiest ways to help us is to promote what we do in your community. So if you know a nursery, school or a community group supporting vulnerable adults or children tell them about our cause and encourage them to get in touch.

 Want to know more? Contact: emma@bigsingsoul.org.uk or call: 07598 402658

WAYS TO VOLUNTEER

Do you have fundraising experience? Worked in a charity? Got some spare time? Please get in touch and see how you can help our charity. We are always looking for a more diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge.

ESSEX LOTTERY
Try your luck in the weekly lottery just £1 PER TICKET
60% of the proceeds go to causes so if you choose The BIG Sing SOUL as your charity we receive 50p for every ticket purchased and 10p goes to other causes in Essex. The remaining 40p goes to the prize fund.

There’s a £25,000 grand prize JACKPOT and it could be yours by matching all 6 numbers

BOOKING A TRIP/HOLIDAY
If you’re looking to book that all important staycation or holiday abroad look no further than Your Great Adventures and let them take the hassle out of finding somewhere. Franchise of Explorer Travel, ABTA bonded, ATOL protected, and independent with a personal service to tailor the booking to your specific requirements this service comes at no additional cost to you. With every booking they want to support our charity with a % of their profit you’ve nothing to lose!

STAYCATION OFFER
Holiday home for rental in Woodhall Spa, a little haven on the edge of the Wolds, outdoor Kinema, Tearooms and buzzing village yet close to amazing coastline and  Lincoln with it’s magnificent castle. If you’re looking to book that all important staycation No 11 Tarleton has achieved an amazing balance between perfect luxury and simple convenience. Situated in the heart of town, we provide everything you need to enjoy your stay.

Any BIG Sing bookings result in 5% donation to SOUL from the proprietors.

A BIG ‘THANK YOU’ to our volunteers – over £100,000 raised
We are indebted to our AMAZING BIG Sing choir members who volunteer to help us raise funds. Without their time, kindness, creativity, talents and generosity they make it possible for our charity to exist to take our music to those that cannot come to us, and in doing so there is POWER IN COMMUNITY.


Thank you to each and every volunteer for their contribution, here are some highlights:





 

If you have an idea of how we could raise funds or if you would like to volunteer please get in touch

A BIG ‘THANK YOU’ to our Essex community – over £2,600 raised at our Summer Festival

BIG Sing held their first ever outdoor festival on Sunday, August 1 and what a great comeback for the community of Essex.

Over 780 exhibitors and visitors came and entertained the crowds.

Big Sing director Gemma Francis said: “What an amazing day. We’ve been dreaming of this event and planning our day of freedom all through lockdown.

“Finally we got to sing and be together. “It’s been overwhelming but we are so happy to be back and the event has been just what we had imagined – a great day out for all the family.”

 

We would like to thank and acknowledge these organisations who have supported us:
AWARDS
The Rotary Club of Ipswich Awards
Recognition of good works in the community 2019

Pride of Essex Awards

Highly Commended
2018
Braintree District Volunteer Awards
Winner Volunteer Group
2018 – Witham Fundraising Team

The BIG Sing SOUL is a project of the charity Imagine the Day who along with the BIG Sing have Christian values.
They have a board of trustees dedicated to ensuring the charity is regulated in line with the charity commission.

Imagine the Day Limited: Registered Limited Company in England and Wales 04942225
Registered Head Office: The Rock, International Drive, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4WA
Registered Charity: 1100673

Thank You!

Thank you for submitting your application for our FREE online school resources. We will assess your application and get back to you asap.

Please check you spam / junk / promotions folder if you do not appear to receive an email confirmation message back from us.

contact sandra@bigsingsoul.org.uk if you have any queries.