Sidney De Haan Centre and Military Wives Choirs

The Military Wives Choirs Foundation has an international network of over 70 singing groups for women associated with the military. The network arose out of the highly successful television series of The Choir with Gareth Malone.

The Sidney De Haan Centre have worked with the Foundation to help them evaluate the contribution which their choirs make to the wellbeing of members and their families.

Over 600 women responded to an online survey about their experiences of singing, and feedback was highly positive confirming the considerable social, psychological and wellbeing benefits associated with being part of a Military Wives Choir. Nevertheless, some members of choirs gave feedback on some negative aspects of their experience including problems of 'internal politics' within groups, pressures of rehearsals and concerns about the quality of performances.

Some of the feedback underlined the key role that membership of a choir in coping with the pressures of military life and in coping with both mental and physical health issues: 

"I found it really hard at this new posting, going to choir has helped me to settle down and find friends."

"I have been privileged to meet and become friends with a group of ladies who in the normal course of military live I would not have met.  The choir is a source of mutual support and as I support my husband in the far from straightforward task of leaving the army and joining the civilian world, I have a safe place among people who understand the unique pressures of our way of life and to whom I do not need to explain myself." 

It's something for me that isn't organised by my husband's regiment or the kids' school! Being an army wife can be quite claustrophobic and it’s good to have somewhere to go to meet people who experience the same daily challenges and are considerate of them but don’t necessarily want to talk about them! I go to choir and I’m just ‘me’ not ‘his wife’ or ‘his mum’!

"I suffer from severe depression but having the choir and my wonderful friends has helped bring me back from some very dark times over the last 2 years."

"When, sometimes I feel low and depressed I come to choir rehearsal because it makes me happy and forget everything again."

"I was suffering from post traumatic stress...  It encouraged me to step out of the house.  Especially when my husband was away."

"Certainly improved my mental health by allowing me time away from home as me rather than wife or mother."