The People’s Orchestra – What we do

Using music to bring about positive social change, The People’s Orchestra(TPO) is a very special charity.

Our work stretches far and wide with volunteers, events, development programmes and support networks that work together like a finely-crafted concerto.

Here’s a breakdown of how we are helping members and communities across the UK through The People’s Orchestra, People’s Show Choirs and Rusty Player’s Orchestras but far more too. You can read more about these musical groups we run at The Scale of The People’s Orchestra is Bigger Than You Think.

First and foremost, we are all about encouraging happiness, health and life-long skills to everyone who crosses our path – and here’s how.

Providing opportunities for personal development

Although TPO’s work stretches across the UK, our head office is based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands. This is where we provide valuable work placements for people of all ages including students wanting hands-on experience.

Our placements help those taking part to gain confidence, training and essential experience for their CV. That in turn, equips and empowers them with everyday skills they need to find a job.

Our volunteer schemes – that earned us the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – work in a similar fashion.

Volunteers are trusted with a variety of tasks that make a huge difference to their personal growth and expertise. It’s a way we help to unlock each person’s potential.

It’s rewarding for us too, proudly seeing our helpers develop into roles and show how capable they can be. In return, they get the satisfaction of knowing they can achieve.

We appreciate our volunteers, so we always provide extensive training and support. Roles range from marketing and admin support to assisting with music workshops and doing consumer-facing front of house tasks at concerts.

 

Tackling loneliness and social isolation

Weekly get-togethers by choirs and orchestras can sometimes be the only time that some members get out of the house and socialise with someone face to face.

That’s why our laidback rehearsals always have an element of fun and time to chat over a cuppa.

We know our events can be a lifeline against loneliness for many, so we always welcome new members with open arms and create day trips and tours where there’s the opportunity to meet more like-minded people.

Our People’s Show Choirs have extended our network out to people who can’t play a musical instrument. We now have 20 Show Choirs from the Scottish Highlands to London and that number keeps growing. Find your local Show Choir here.

We’re attracting keen singers from all walks of life and ages, whether they can read music or not. Recently retired John Murray explained how when he goes to the Sutton Coldfield Show Choir, even when he’s had a bad day, he leaves thinking ‘that’s what life is all about’.

By breaking down barriers between residents and communities through music, we’re bringing together people to play, sing, make new friends, learn new things and most importantly, laugh.

 

Benefits advice line for the most vulnerable

TPO set up our benefits advice line to help people who are struggling with their finances.

Our experienced team has helped residents in some of the most disadvantaged communities – especially important during the worrying time of the cost of living crisis.

On average, we support around 250 people every year with benefits and employment advice.

 

Helping people back into work

Our specialist Back to Work Support initiative works closely with Jobcentres to offer one-to-one help for those struggling to find jobs or return to a workplace.

It’s very much a mentoring service to keep in constant touch with those looking for work or starting a new job, encouraging them to persist. Of late, our team has found that there are disillusioned university graduates needing support to secure jobs in areas they never expected to work in.

It’s all part of our service to provide people with the skills, experience, and confidence they need to be employable.

 

Using music to enrich lives and boost mental health

We’re firm believers that music can make a difference to people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health for the better. Playing an instrument or singing has been shown to help many ease the effects of stress, anxiety, memory loss and even dementia.

One of our members, busy mum-of-two Fiona Cross-Chowdhury, talks about how her stress-relief involves music rather than joining a gym here.

A pilot scheme we earned funding for has allowed us to organise regular singing healthy walk sessions at parks in the Black Country. It means people can forget they are exercising as preoccupied with learning a new song as they walk.

Fostering connections with others is also a way to keep happy and there’s plenty of that at TPO. It’s not unusual to hear how members have become lifelong friends.

We maintain a sense of belonging among all our members and volunteers regionally and nationally. Local groups spread out as far as the Welsh coastline to top of Scotland have the chance to meet up through our regular mass concerts and tours.

Members have come together at events in prestigious locations including The Royal Academy of Music and Birmingham Symphony Hall. There have also been day tours and longer visits to perform in the UK and abroad including to Poland.

 

As you can see, there’s a lot going on at TPO. That’s backed by the fact we have a Social Return on Investment(SROI) value rating of 1/27.

Most of all, TPO gives people the chance to revisit their love of music and improve how they sing or play an instrument by group leaders who have been carefully selected for their expertise.

If you want to get involved or need support, visit our website homepage here.