Singing the praises of joining choir

A group of inspirational youngsters who make up Canterbury’s first disabled choir for children are preparing to take centre stage.

Sensational Choir, set up by mums Catherine ‘CJ’ Jones and Jane Lacey, consists of 20 children with various disabilities, including autism, speech and language difficulties and ADHD.

They are set to perform at a special concert alongside Makaton signing choir Lyrical Hands and Reach Out Gospel Choir at The Canterbury Primary School this month.

Mrs Lacey, who works at the Kent Autistic Trust, says the purpose of the event is to show off what the children have achieved in the face of such challenges.

“The choir was the brainchild of CJ who worked at St Nicholas School before moving to head up the autism unit at Canterbury Primary,” she said.

“Music and singing can be a terrific way of connecting with children with all learning difficulties.

“We wanted to make it inclusive and give them a chance to do something that other children do.

“We have a couple in wheelchairs, some that are unable to talk so they don’t sing but they play percussion, we have twin girls with autism, children with speech and language difficulties - we are open to everyone, siblings too.”

Mum-of-two Mrs Lacey, from Chartham, has an 11-year-old son with autism.

“I guess he was part of the inspiration, although I’ve yet to get him to join the choir,” she said.

“Very often children with learning difficulties don’t get to perform and show what they can do so this gives them that chance.

“It is also about their families. Having a disabled child can be very isolating.

“It’s so important to cherish what these children are achieving.”

She says the choir, which meets on the first Saturday of each month at Canterbury Primary School, is looking for new members.

Anyone interested in signing their child up can email SENSAtionalchoir@outlook.com.

The choir will perform on Saturday, February 16, at 7pm.

For tickets, go to www.ticketsource.co.uk/reach-out-gospelchoir.