Soldiering On Awards: People's Choice Finalist The Invictus Games Choir
The Soldiering On Awards have announced that voting is now officially underway for the People's Choice Award, recognising the achievements of those who have served their country and the diverse people and groups who work together in support of the Armed Forces community.
We've taken a look at the fantastic work undertaken by each of the finalists - amongst whom are the Invictus Games Choir...
The Invictus Games Choir enables participants to experience recovery through the power of choral singing.
It's designed for singers of all abilities and has helped wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans and serving personnel to sing in a group, in public, as part of their recovery.
Members of the choir have sung in a number of amazing venues, from Twickenham to Canterbury Cathedral.
The choir are looking forward to being part of the entertainment for the RAF 100 Commemoration at the International Bomber Command Memorial, as well as performing the Great War Symphony at the Royal Albert Hall later this year.
Singing can help to improve and maintain mental health as well as having some fantastic positive effects on individuals bodies overall wellbeing.
Lieutenant Charley Tysler, who joined the choir in 2016, told Forces Network the powerful physical health benefits are often overlooked:
"There's a lot of studies out there especially about choral singing... showing the physical benefits including reduced chronic pain. It can start to stimulate movement in parts of your body that you were previously unable to move thanks to group synchrony."
Organisers say the therapeutic benefits of singing are similar to those gained from participating in sport and being given the opportunity to sing with like-minded people who've been through similar experiences can help to recapture the camaraderie of the military.
They also argue it allows those who don't, or can't, take part in sport to become engaged again in life and so boost their recovery. One member said:
"Even after 18 months I still don't like singing on my own in front of people, but when I sing with the Invictus Games Choir I am not on my own. I am vulnerable, but I am safe, and most of all I am understood. There is no judgement but my own and there is no sympathy, just empathy."
Charley was one of the original Invictus Games Choir (IGC) members and realised that there was a need to expand it to include more WIS personnel and veterans.
After securing the help of Dr Allie Bennington and Carolyn Crissman, the trio managed to expand the choir to include over 60 members, with a musical director and accompanist.
One performance done, next one starts at 1430! Come check us out at Tottenham Court Road #invictusgameschoir#helpforheroes#singing#Platform88pic.twitter.com/8PwqwOnQN3
— Invictus Games Choir (@InvictusGChoir) December 19, 2017
Charley undertook the work while dealing with her own medical issues and subsequent medical discharge for a physical injury.
Allie is the head of evaluation and assurance at Help for Heroes (H4H) and Carolyn is a full-time H4H Volunteer. Both volunteered to help build the choir into a sustainable recovery activity and administer the choir during its conception and growth.
They created and submitted the case to gain support from H4H and continue to arrange rehearsal weekends, deal with all administrative support and assist the emotional support of the choir members. As a result, it is now an organised recovery activity within Help for Heroes.
Members travel from Cornwall, Germany, Northern Ireland and from all over the rest of the mainland to come to sing.
The choir, which sang at Twickenham for the 2017 Army Navy Match, say they owe a debt of gratitude to Charley, Allie and Carolyn for all their hard work and dedication.
The People's Choice Award, sponsored by Forces Network, is being selected by public vote before the winner is announced at a black-tie ceremony on April 20.
Members of the public have until midnight on March 12 to give a huge boost of morale to people who deserve all the support we can give them in their dedication to the Armed Forces community - through one easy click on a voting website.
Last month Charley and Carolyn came in to speak to BFBS Salisbury Plain. Just click below to have a listen:
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