On the hottest day of the year so far, we travelled with South West Trains from Bournemouth to London Waterloo, stopping at 7 stations along the way to sing and raise money for Mind, supporting mental health. It was an early start and a long day, but so worth it.

With most charity fundraisers, you don’t actually see the fruit of your actions. You may receive a certificate of thanks in the post from the charity, acknowledging how much you’ve raised, but it usually stops there. You never see the gratitude on the faces of the people who receive this money or who benefit from it.

This time, we could see the difference we were making to people’s days and moods as they walked past… with a moving audience at each busy station, hundreds of people heard and saw us singing and dancing, and the smiles on their faces made mine grow bigger each time. Even though we still may not see where the money we’ve raised goes, knowing we brightened the days of commuters in the South West is enough.

Being part of Love Soul is like being in a huge extended family, and having the opportunity to do something uplifting that has a positive impact on the wider community is always a joy and a privilege. 

Before we performed at Vauxhall station, I was about ready to pass out from the heat and tiredness of travelling. But as soon as we started singing in the station walkway beneath the platforms, I felt a fresh energy as the acoustics amplified our voices, and people were drawn to where the sound was coming from. Watching people sing along and dance, and the look of surprise and happiness on their faces when they saw us, made me feel so proud of the whole choir, and to be part of something so powerful.

As we left Southampton station earlier in the day, the station guard said to us “When I heard that a choir was coming to perform I wasn’t sure what to expect, but you guys are so vibrant, it’s great – come back any time!”

So to anyone who is considering joining a choir but is unsure… look no further! All aboard!

Faye Bowden
(Bournemouth Member)

If you’d like to apply for an audition with Love Soul Choir, please visit the audition page on our website. Once you’ve sent your application to us, we’ll be in touch within a couple of days to schedule the time and place of your audition.