The Centre for Innovation and Research in Wellbeing (CIRW) brings together research, scholarship and expertise on wellbeing and builds on growth in academic research and service development in this area. The Centre is a leading interdisciplinary, innovative and international centre in the field of wellbeing and focuses on key areas such as mental health, ageing, disability, children, place and environment, cultural diversity, spirituality and migration.
CIRW is directed by Professor Charles Watters (Social Work & Social Care) and Deputy Director, Dr Laia Becares (Social Work and Social Care, Data Intensive Science Centre).
Singing For Wellbeing
On 16 October 2019 CIRW hosted 'Singing for Wellbeing' at the Attenborough Centre for Creative Arts on the Sussex campus. The guest speaker was Dr Sarah Andersen , a local GP from Herstmonceux Integrative Health Centre and founder of the ‘Futurehealth Brighton’ project.
The event was CIRW’s biggest to date with over 40 attendees, including local GPs, choir leaders, academics and social prescribing experts. Siggi Mwasote from Worthing's ‘Spring into Soul’ community choir led the audience in a harmonised rendition of gospel classic ‘This Little Light of Mine’, clearly demonstrating the immediate energising effect of singing in a group.
This was followed by Dr Andersen speaking about her research with community choirs in the UK and Norway and her compelling findings that singing can positively affect women’s perceptions of their health and wellbeing. There followed a debate about whether there is a role for social prescribing of singing by health professionals and also about the sustainability and inclusivity of singing as an intervention.
To be added to CIRW’s Singing Network, email your details to cirw@sussex.ac.uk.
Contacts
For information about CIRW contact:
Anna Ridgewell, CIRW Research Fellow
+44 (0)1273 873364
A.Ridgewell@sussex.ac.uk
cirw@sussex.ac.uk
CIRW Director:
Professor Charles Watters
+44 (0)1273 873364
C.Watters@sussex.ac.uk
CIRW Deputy Director:
Dr Laia Becares
+44 1273 873106
L.Becares@sussex.ac.uk
Centre for Innovation and Research in Wellbeing
Department of Social Work and Social Care
School of Education and Social Work
Essex House
University of Sussex
Falmer BN1 9QQ
