Spring is a busy time for us!
Like many charities, it is the end of our financial year which gives us an opportunity to look back and reflect on how things have been going. We ask ourselves:
- What went well?
- What challenges did we face?
- What feedback did we receive and how can we respond to it moving forward?
We’ve spent the past couple of years adapting to the ever changing Covid 19 pandemic and, while it has been challenging, we are grateful for all that we have experienced, learned and grown as a result.
Learning how to do group music online.
When the pandemic first started we moved all our activity online; learned how to run group music sessions on zoom, made bespoke playlists for residents in dementia units, sent a ‘Choir in a Box’ to Sing for Life members, created G5 Kids Choir and Youth Guitar websites, private Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats and much more to do our best to stay connected with one another.
In Jan 2021 we were delighted to welcome Chani Bond to our team as a Community Development Officer. We’re grateful for how much she has brought to Givin’ it Laldie already. Her organisation, enthusiasm and creative thinking have allowed us to improve how we communicate, take part in more community events and navigate the many considerations we make to ensure we can keep people safe when they are with us. She was instrumental in ensuring we could come back together after so long apart in a safe, exciting way.
Coming back after Lockdown:
In August 2021, after 1.5 years, we adapted again to returning to in-person sessions. We worked hard to ensure that the learning, unexpected positive outcomes and new skills learned during lockdown were taken forward and each group now runs differently as a result. For example;
- The Laldie Sessions (currently online): The online singing sessions for residents in local sheltered housing units have been such a success that we are now going to invest in online provision long term. We will also have regular in person sessions to compliment this.
- Sing for Life: We now have a hybrid session with some people attending in person and some people attending online. This has been very successful and hugely meaningful to the people online who have been able to maintain connections despite being unable to attend in person.
- Strum for Life: The Facebook group set up during lockdown continues to run to allow people to communicate between sessions and share ideas, news and resources.
- G5 Kids Choir: We have learned how to record the choir and make music videos to release online. This gives the children a great confidence boost and fun goals to work towards. Their latest song is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuoO31uzsNQ
We also started a new youth music project called Tune Room based on feedback from children in our choir and guitar classes that they want to continue to do music with us after primary school and that they want to learn production, how to write songs and how to play different instruments. It feels important for us to offer continuity to teenagers as they go to high school in other parts of the city.
Therefore, we now have three streams of work:
This year we also took part in a number of performances organised by our partners including a lovely socially distanced Christmas show.
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Feedback:
We held a number of focus groups and interviews with participants this year and asked folk to fill in online questionnaires. We got some really great feedback including:
“It helps me with my lung health, when I sing it really helps things to start moving.”
“It’s been great for me because I probably couldn’t get down the road to be in person anymore so thank you for putting this on, I’m very grateful.”
“You feel a buzz, like when you’re a kid, you’re looking forward to something”
“Singing together really cements a feeling of togetherness which has been so important after the last 2 years.”
“The sessions make me feel full of joy. I feel I can take on the world.”
“It’s just all the people, we’re here for each other when we go up and down, with no reproach and no judgement.”
Support Us:
We are so grateful to the Friends of Laldie and those who make donations to our work. It allows us to work flexibly, respond to requests from our participants and take part in local community-led initiatives. As we continue to grow as an organization, so too does our fundraising target.
If you want to do any fundraising for the charity information on how to donate is available on the website: https://givinitlaldie.org.uk/friends-of-givin-it-laldie/
There are two main options
- Become a Friend of Laldie and donate each month by signing up here: https://sitewide.typeform.com/to/G2MuLj?typeform-source=givinitlaldie.org.uk
- Make a one off donation through Givey here: https://www.givey.com/givinitlaldie
Or
If you would like to volunteer with us there are many different ways you can do that listed below. Volunteers are vital to the smooth running of our organisation and we do our best to make sure it is a rewarding, positive experience for them.
- G5 Kids Choir: https://opportunities.volunteerglasgow.org/volunteers/opportunity/10182650
- Youth Music Digital Assistant: https://opportunities.volunteerglasgow.org/volunteers/opportunity/10182776
- Chair of our Board of Trustees: https://givinitlaldie.org.uk/2022/04/19/were-looking-for-a-chair-for-our-board-of-trustees/
Thank you for reading and do get in touch if there is anything you have read here that has sparked ideas for you!
Clare
Givin’ it Laldie Manager.
0141 280 0053