How community groups have adapted for Covid-19
Singing and art have gone online to keep going
SINCE the early spring, coronavirus has wrought havoc in our community with lives, jobs and leisure activities all on hold pending the lifting of sanctions.
Organisations from across Charnwood are now waking up to a quite different future to what they had envisaged three short months ago; while hairstylists, pubs, shops and restaurants in the borough reopen, community centres and libraries for instance for now stay closed.
The closure of these centres combined with the lockdown dealt a severe blow to choirs, art clubs, and a host of other groups who routinely use them. Activities like keep fit, language learning, bridge, ballet etc, have temporarily closed and some may not reopen even after the restrictions are lifted.
Some groups have adapted their services in an uncertain future by moving all or some activities online. For example, Loughborough Male Voice Choir (LMVC) and Charnwood Drawing and Painting Club (CDPC); both have backed new technology and moved their singing and art demonstrations respectively, albeit temporarily over to Zoom.
Chris Hill, musical director of LMVC, said that Covid-19 and lockdown presented huge challenges to its members: “The choir had sung together at Trinity Church each Thursday evening for over ten years. However in March the venue closed and health priorities in our group made us re think how we could safely practice together and maintain our fellowship. Meeting online using Zoom was the way forward.”
LMVC began 50 years ago. It has around 55 members who normally meet for weekly rehearsals and periodic concert performances. According to Chris the experience of singing from home in a ‘virtual choir’ has been transformative.
“Learning how to sing via Zoom has been a real opportunity for us to grasp new technology and the skills to stage our own Grand Concert online. Zoom has also helped us to stay in touch in the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves,” says Chris.
Another group facing similar challenges to LMVC is Charnwood Drawing and Painting Club.
Paul Lockton, club chair, said: “The closure of meeting facilities including those at a local school suspended our art demonstrations, plus weekly painting sessions at other locations were also cancelled.
“With income streams severely hit we had to move some of our activities including demonstrations online until face to face meetings could resume.”
CDPC is long established with a membership of 50 who love to draw and paint. It provides art demonstrations, weekly painting sessions and exhibitions showcasing members’ work.
“Most of our members are self-taught artists who paint from home.
“They saw Zoom workshops as a source of inspiration to improve their technique and nurture interest in art. Take up has been excellent and our online numbers increase with each workshop,” Paul added.
If any readers of the Echo wish to know more about opportunities to take part in online singing or art, or would like to join a local choir or art group, please contact Paul Lockton on 07947 609077.