We are delighted to award a £20,000 grant to the charity Military Wives Choirs, to help fund the costs of its Supporting Our Hidden Community project, which lends support to women whose lives are impacted by their partner’s role in the Armed Forces.
Supporting the wellbeing of all members of the Army family goes to the heart of our mission, and our donation will partly fund the operating costs of the charity’s unique welfare work.
Military Wives Choirs is a community of nearly 2,000 women in 72 choirs across the UK and internationally. Its members come together to celebrate a love of singing and a communal understanding that comes from shared experiences of the Armed Forces.
The charity welcomes all women whose lives are currently impacted by their military connection; the women support each other and form life-changing friendships that lead to new and uplifting experiences through singing.
Military life across the services has its challenges. Some families move regularly to a new posting, and, for others, deployments mean long periods of separation. Singing in a choir has been proven to increase wellbeing and improve mental and physical health.
With no auditions and no pressure to perform, Military Wives Choirs gives its members the opportunity to spend time with women that truly understand the challenges associated with military life.
Wendy Human, Director, Military Wives Choirs, said:
“All of us at Military Wives Choirs are grateful for the support of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Our small and dedicated team works to support our volunteers and beneficiaries in the delivery of our core mission, to increase wellbeing and create a community to sing, share and support one another.”
Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Monteith, Chief Operating Officer, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, added:
“As the Army’s national charity, we take a keen interest in ensuring that Army families receive all the support they need, since operational duties can often lead to frequent separation and a sense of isolation from loved ones. We are only too happy to fund Military Wives Choirs’ fantastic and unique work promoting the wellbeing of women across the military community.”
Last year Military Wives Choirs celebrated its 10th anniversary. Read more about its work here.
You can also listen to our exclusive podcast with the Military Wives Choirs and host Harry Bucknall.