Greater Manchester’s Sing Their Name choir, which is made up of people bereaved by suicide, will share their stories and voices on BBC’s Songs of Praise this Sunday (27th April), offering a powerful message of hope, remembrance, and community.
Filming took place in the choir’s rehearsal space at the Friends Meeting House in Manchester city centre. The Songs of Praise team captured the members rehearsing, reflecting, and supporting one another through song. One member also introduces a favourite hymn to be sung by the congregation.
Originally created as part of a suicide prevention programme, Sing Their Name received local NHS funding for its first two years. It now operates independently as a Community Interest Company (CIC) bringing together people united by loss to find healing and support through the shared power of music.
Adele Owen QPM, NHS Greater Manchester’s suicide prevention and bereavement support programme manager, said: “From our very early days nervously preparing to sing at our first public event, our choir members now love to perform and very much feel that they are doing it for loved ones no longer with us. We always get approached by someone hearing us sing who has personally been bereaved by suicide. Seeing others take part in something joyful gives them hope.
“We’d also like to inspire the creation of more Sing Their Name Choirs around the country as it is such lovely peer support for those bereaved by suicide and it has a very positive impact. Everyone leaves rehearsals and events feeling more uplifted than when they arrived.”
Though not a faith-based choir, Sing Their Name welcomes people of all faiths and none; and saw the invitation to appear on Songs of Praise as a good opportunity to raise awareness of suicide loss and challenge the silence that often surrounds it. For more information or to get involved, visit www.singtheirnamechoir.com.
