A Catford music company will put on 54 free music workshops on the streets of Lewisham next year.

In a new partnership with Lewisham Council, Give a Song CIC announced a brand new line-up of 54 free music workshops for Lewisham residents.

Residents will be able to participate in workshops from their doorsteps, windows and forecourts.

The initiative is part of a plain to help residents connect through music and promote better wellbeing within the community.

Give a Song CIC first began to spread cheer through music in 2020 and has since played songs for 7,000 people across south east London.

Chloe Edwards-Wood, 30, from Catford, first began Give a Song CIC during the height of the first lockdown to do something for the most vulnerable members of her community.

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Chloe said: “I was at home and having been a performer, musician and actor not able to do anything like a lot of people at the time.

“I wanted to do something, so one day I decided to get together nearby musicians to play songs for vulnerable people who could use some cheering up.

“We began taking doorstep music visits to the houses of those who were isolating, and we visited loads of people from sick children, older people, cancer patients, people in flats and so on.

“We then began playing outside care homes, for queues at food banks and mental health support groups.”

With the help of Goldsmiths Community Centre, Give a Song CIC and its band of 12 musicians began playing outside the doorsteps of people who were isolating or shielding in the community.

Sue East, chair of the board of trustees at Goldsmiths Community Association, said: "Our team are proud and privileged to have supported the establishment and growth of Give A Song. It is a fantastic project that helps us fulfil our mission to create opportunities for local people to connect, create, learn, grow and thrive.

“We wish Chloe and her team every success as they continue to spread joy through the power of music."

The musicians play a mix of portable instruments including saxophones, clarinets and guitars, performing requested songs to residents of Lewisham and other areas in south east London.

Chloe said Three Little Birds by Bob Marley is still one of their most popular songs.

She added: “Especially throughout lockdown it was always requested, it’s still a go-to because everyone knows it and it brings a lot of joy.”

Although lockdown has ended, Chloe said there are still a lot of people, particularly the older population that are still isolated, which is why she feels that providing this service to older members of the community is still so important.

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Chloe said: “We used to visit a lady living with dementia and her son who was her carer.

“She wasn’t very communicative at the start, but then there was a strong change whenever we played a song that she knew.

“She would start moving and her face would light up, it was like a switch had been pulled.

“Just seeing that visual change was amazing and to see her share that with her son was very moving.”

Since beginning, Give a Song CIC has received much praise and support from community members and Chloe has been able to grow this project into a business from the generosity of the community.

Chloe added: “The support has been incredible; we’ve had funding from Lewisham Council and countless donations from people who’ve seen us on Facebook and from neighbours who’ve seen us playing on the street.

“It’s not just about playing for the person, it’s also about how it brings communities together.”

In August this year Give a Song CIC became a community interest company that Chloe directs as a business.

People can book to have a musician play an at event. Any profits fund the free visits to nominated individuals and organisations, enabling Give a Song to continue to do the charitable work it was set up for.

In recent months Chloe said she has noticed an increase in interest for Give a Song’s free services, especially during the Christmas period.

She said: “Christmas is always a busy time for us, especially this year. Over the next few weeks we will be playing at food banks, homeless shelters, care homes, mental health groups and of course our doorstep visits.

“We’ve had an influx of interest and we know that Christmas is a time where people want to spread joy to those who need it."

2023 marks a new partnership for Give a Song CIC with the launch of a free music workshop programme in collaboration with Lewisham Council.

Chloe added: “Music really brings people together and we’d love to continue to build on that further and deliver workshops and services for everyone to enjoy."

Anyone wanting to nominate a person or organisation for a song can do so by emailing contact@giveasong.org.uk

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