The Choir Project
A new, 3-year national programme introducing and nurturing 2000 children and young people as active disciples in the worshipping life of the Church, through the creation or renewal of 200 choirs supported by 500 new volunteers.
What’s the plan?
Over 3 years, the RSCM will support at least 200 churches to establish or renew choirs for children and young people. The programme will work through RSCM-led and supported mentoring networks, and through diocesan partnerships to provide practical training to ensure sustainability and long-term growth. The work is planned around 4 interventions:
1
Training at every level
2
Faith resources that embed discipleschip in music-making
3
Tailored support for churches
4
Advocacy that inspires change across the Church
1 | Training: Developing Confident Leaders
- Training for musicians, covering topics such as recruiting singers, planning rehearsals, supporting inclusion
- Training for clergy, including (but not only) through TEIs and IME2.
- Training for the whole parish, including setting a vision, identifying volunteers and building partnerships.
2 | Faith Resources: Integrating Music and Discipleship
New flexible discipleship resources to use with singers, using music as a touchpoint, which can be both embedded within rehearsals as well as used in separate sessions.
3 | Tailored Support: Enabling Churches to Act
A structured programme of support for churches setting up or renewing choirs for young people, including peer mentoring from exemplar Beacon Churches. Each participating church will receive an initial consultation and action plan, followed by regular contact, mentoring and support. Online networks and shared learning events will provide additional support. Each church will be asked to make a modest financial contribution which, by Year 3, will provide a meaningful income to support the programme’s ongoing sustainability.
4 | Advocacy and Communications: Shaping the Narrative
A national campaign to promote music as a vital tool for mission and discipleship, encouraging dioceses and parishes to see what is possible in their own contexts and inspire action at every level of the Church.
What about the money?
The project is about providing central tools, rather than passing the money on to individual churches; £2,000 per church wouldn’t go very far. The value of the project comes from combining the inputs; this is where RSCM’s role as a national organisation will ensure the project has deep impact. Churches will have access to training modules, meetings, resources for music leaders and for clergy leaders, and all the support needed to set up successful local initiatives.
The support will include guiding you to making a local financial plan and advice on applying for funding. We will look to expand the help we are able to offer in this area as our resources grow.
How can I get involved?
If you represent a church which would like to explore the possibility of taking part in the project, please complete this short form: https://forms.office.com/e/SGWgnnQrvu
If you are interested in getting involved another way, have any questions, or would like to join the mailing list, please email choirproject@rscm.com