Soundabout UK

Soundabout is a United Kingdom based charitable organisation (Registered UK charity number 1103002) that uses music to empower and unlock the potential of people with severe and profound learning disabilities. They use multisensory music-making techniques to help stimulate communication, learning and self-expression, enabling people who may be unable to hold a musical instrument or speak to make their own unique contributions. 
==History==
Soundabout launched its first inclusive choir in Oxford in February 2019 as reported by the Oxford Mail. Ths choir has received coverage from UK national media including the BBC. 
In April 2019 Soundabout launched a project in association with James Hawkins called 'What Does Love Sound Like'? They asked composers Dame Evelyn Glennie, John Rutter, Will Todd and Debbie Wiseman OBE to put themselves in the position of someone unable to speak. They were challenged to say, “I love you” using sound alone. The resulting compositions were published on YouTube and reported in UK National and regional press. This initiative was endorsed by Stephen Fry.
In 2019 Soundabout was chosen as a partner beneficiary of the Global Media Group's 'Make Some Noise' charity. This was extended into 2020.
They have also been invited by, harmony vocal group, The King's Singers to become ambassadors of their Finding Harmony campaign, to help raise awareness of the power of music to bring people together. As part of the campaign, The King’s Singers will be running workshops with the choir, and singing together in a collaborative performance.
Clare Cook was appointed CEO of Soundabout in April 2018 having previously in the charity sector at Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Child Bereavement UK, Christian Aid and most recently, Missing People. Whilst at Missing People, Clare co-founded the Missing People Choir for families with missing loved ones which reached the final stages of Britain's Got Talent 2017.
==Soundabout's work==
Three times a year Soundabout hold multisensory music making festivals based on specidic themes such as ‘Winter Wonderland’, ‘Tropical Rainforest’, ‘Voyage Across the Sea’ etc.. 
Inclusive Choir sessions are held in central Oxford and available for all people of all abilities to sing, make music and perform together. The choir took part in the ‘jamming session’ for BBC Music Day 2018 at Didcot Parkway Station working with Steph Pirrie of the Jericho Singers. 
Soundabout also deliver bespoke music making sessions at daycare and residential facilities as well as community groups. 
Following the outbreak of the coronavirus, COVID-19, Soundabout moved all activities onto digital platforms. Live music and sensory broadcasts take place twice a week on their FaceBook page, inclusive 'Hello Songs' are also broadcast every weekday morning. The Inclusive Choir interacts via Zoom video conferencing along with individual, one-to-one, training sessions. 
==Trustees==
* Professor Adam Ockleford
* John Hall 
* Danielle Harker 
* Mark Richards 
* Emily Newsome 
* Kate Pattinson 
==Patrons==
* Debbie Wiseman 
* Derek Paravicini
==In the media==
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== References ==	
== External links ==
* Soundabout UK twitter page
* Soundabout UK facebook page
* Soundabout UK instagram page
* Soundabout UK youtube channel
* Soundabout linkedin apge
* Soundabout - Charity Details
* Soundabout Community Music Making Sessions - a Music
Category:Charities based in the United Kingdom
Category:Charities based in England
Category:Organizations established in 1995
Category:Charitable organizations