A very warm welcome to the Sing Their Name Choir website. Thank you for looking us up.
We are a choir made up of men and women who live and/or work in Greater Manchester, all of whom have lost someone they dearly love to suicide.
Over 200 people die by suicide in Greater Manchester each year. Each death has a ripple effect to families and communities, with at least 6 others being seriously affected (meaning they are likely to find it difficult to work, form relationships and live to their full potential). But research shows as many as 135 people can be affected by each death. We are all among them.
We originally came together to perform at the Manchester Baton of Hope event in June 2023. Once it was over, we realised we wanted (or maybe needed) to continue to meet, combining the invaluable peer support we give each other with the health benefits of singing. We meet most Wednesdays near St Peter’s Square in central Manchester to rehearse. We sing for an hour and then chat over a drink. We have also performed at several public events.
If you are interested in joining us, please email us on hello@singtheirnamechoir.com, or look at our Join the choir page.
A community of hope
We were delighted to be interviewed by Christian from Yellow Jigsaw, and be featured as one of their Communities of Hope. Listen here for a short but very uplifting podcast about the choir, with thoughts from a few of our members about the impact it has on them, as well as a lot more laughter than you'd expect from a choir for people who've lost someone they love to suicide.
We hope this will encourage others who have lost someone they love to suicide to come and join us, and benefit from the peer support and understanding that we can provide.
Preparing to sing publicly
A short film about the choir preparing to sing publicly for the first time at the Baton of Hope UK Tour when it came to Greater Manchester.
Choir members have found it to be such a wonderful way to remember their loved ones and to gain support from others affected by suicide bereavement.
Formed for the Baton of Hope Tour
The choir was formed in March 2023, and sang publicly for the first time when the Baton of Hope UK Tour came to Greater Manchester.
On June 29th 2023 the Baton of Hope UK Tour reached Greater Manchester. Hundreds turned out on a beautiful sunny day to help raise awareness of suicide and carry the Baton of Hope in memory of loved ones lost to suicide and as a beacon of hope to those who may be struggling. The day ended with the first public performance of the Sing Their Name Choir.
Click here for more information about the Baton of Hope.