Carers share their hearts and voices

Rochdale’s Carers’ Choir

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A repertoire of contemporary songs including You’ll Never Walk Alone and Lean on Me, were sung by the Rochdale’s Carers’ Choir in celebration of Carers Week, last month.

The choir hopes to sing their way into the hearts of local people and encourage other carers to seek help and support from The Carers’ Resource.

Councillor Jean Hornby, cabinet member for adult care at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The passion our choir has and the joy it brings to their lives is audible. The choir has an important message to spread – everyone needs a little helping hand in their caring role and at The Carers’ Resource, we care for carers. Everyone please tune in and take a welcome music break in busy your day.” 

United by the shared experience of being a carer, the singers find their fellow choir members are a source of much comfort and support, and choir practices are relaxing, fun and welcome respite.

Mary Crossley, 78, from Middleton has been caring for her husband for five years since he suffered a stroke, and explains what the choir means to her: “I love it here, I enjoy the singing enormously but it is also a place where the members can share problems with those who can identify with the difficulties carers face daily. Many lovely friendships are formed here. I’ve got a whole lot of life still in me and can’t think of anything I’d rather do with the one day off I have in the week.”

The Carers’ Choir meet every Wednesday, 12:30pm at The Carers’ Resource, 35-37 Oldham Road, Rochdale. It’s open to any carer in the borough to join.

There are over 23,260 carers in the borough. The types of people who care are diverse. There are older carers, parent carers and young carers who on average spend over 50+ hours a week providing unpaid care for a loved one. Each carer saves the local economy £18.5k a year which equates to a total local saving of over £430m a year. Nationally another 6000 people take on a caring responsibility every day.

To watch the Rochdale’s Carers’ Choir live online broadcast debut via YouTube, search for Carers Choir Live or visit www.carersassociation.org to watch it back.