St Bernard’s Choir, a group from West London NHS Trust that brings together staff, current inpatients and former service users, is preparing for a series of Christmas performances that organisers say celebrate connection and recovery.
The choir has been running for nine years and meets weekly, with staff singing alongside people currently receiving inpatient care and those who have since been discharged. Deborah Klayman, who leads the group alongside Regina Okeke and Gary, a former patient, said it began under a chaplain, Sally, and was nearly forced to close when she moved to another trust.
Ms Klayman said: “The choir’s actually been running for nine years … When Sally got a job at another trust, someone had to take over running the choir or it was going to fold.”
She said the group was distinctive because it is run collaboratively rather than as an activity facilitated solely by staff. Ms Klayman added: “The choir’s quite unique in that it’s the only sort of activity that’s done by staff and service users together … the choir is the one thing we do collaboratively.”
Alice Pollock, a music therapist at West London NHS Trust and a member of the choir, said singing was an inclusive form of self-expression with potential mental and physical benefits, from improving mood to supporting breathing and posture. Ms Pollock said: “When we sing together as part of a choir, we are united in a common experience which helps us listen to and connect with others.”
Gary said the choir had helped rebuild his confidence and relationships. He said: “Being part of the choir has really built up my confidence … it’s like being part of a little family.”
The choir’s first festive performance is scheduled for 6 December 2025 at Ealing Hospital’s Café on the Hill, with further appearances planned throughout the month.
