Group singing has become a popular activity associated with improved mental health, with 2.1m people reported to be singing in choirs in the UK in 2017, and choirs are increasingly used as a therapeutic intervention to improve wellbeing and quality of life. However, there are whole communities who don't have access to group singing interventions, which can be costly and restrictive in terms of timetabling, space, travel, access to choir facilitators.
During Covid-19 virtual choirs became popular and provided a 'better than nothing' solution to the in person activity. This highlighted not only the importance of group singing to mental health and wellbeing, but also emphasised the importance of hearing and contributing to the immersive sound of a choir as part of the benefit of the activity beyond the social interactions that come with it. No virtual choir model can yet encapsulate the known elements of in-person group singing that make it so beneficial and popular: the co-creation of musical sound using the voice and the sense of community and social agency that coming together to sing affords.
This project will develop a multi-user virtual reality group singing experience that enables residents in care homes and Dementia Resource Centres to take part in group singing activities as though they are sitting within a real choir. Using bespoke pre-recorded singing experiences allows this to be a flexible and responsive therapeutic tool not constrained by timetabling requirements. Care home staff or volunteers will be able to run the application via a simple remote device such as their phone to connect to VR headsets worn by residents wherever they are in the building allowing them to be socially connected through conversation and be immersed in a group singing activity.
We know that effective therapeutic interventions are best shaped and developed through inclusive partnerships and cooperation with residents, their carers, and supporting health and social care organisations. Our approach with our partners Alzheimer Scotland, The Crichton Trust, the University of York, and our existing relationships with Scottish Care and Dumfries and Galloway NHS Health and Social Care Partnership, ensures a truly collaborative informed approach for a resident-centered designed solution.