Blog by Helen Sanderson

I am part of Miriam’s Community Circle, and the purpose of her Circle is to get her singing again.  Two weeks ago we did our first performance together, singing with the choir as they performed at Bruce Lodge, where Miriam lives. I wanted to share the story of how this happened, through a person-centred thinking tool called Presence to Contribution. Presence to Contribution is a way to think about how we can go from just ‘doing something together’ to enabling the person to be a contributing member of a community. I must admit that I was not sure what would be possible, and what would work for Miriam.

We started by simply being present – by getting there at the right time and joining in. Every week we are given the song sheets for that week, and I put these together into a song book for us, with photos of us singing on the front. When I collect her from Bruce Lodge she asks me who I am and where we are going. I started to take a photo each week of us singing, so that I can show her, and these are in the front of our songbook too. At the circle meeting we agreed that I would text Miriam’s niece everytime we go. Miriam and I do a selfie and text it to her, and usually be the end of our singing session she has texted us back too.

As we started to turn up with our songbook, we looked more involved, more committed, and after a few weeks people remembered our names (having presence).

Choir starts at 3.15 with a cup of tea and a biscuit. I suggested that we join the tea and coffee rota (actively participating). Miriam is brilliant at washing up. We sent a photo of her washing up to her niece, who texted back, “She would love that, she hasn’t done that for 4 years.” Miriam does love it, so we help with the washing up every week now, regardless of who is on the rota. This means we talk to a few more people, and people appreciate Miriam’s help (connecting).

At Bruce Lodge there was a celebration a few weeks ago, and I wondered if the choir could sing at it. I talked to the choir leader about it, and we asked the choir who were enthusiastic. A letter went from the choir leaders to everyone that said,

‘One of our choir members, Miriam, has invited us to sing where she lives, at Bruce Lodge…”

To be described as one of our members felt great. Here was Miriam, with my support, creating an opportunity for the choir to sing, and therefore contributing. It meant that we had to wear the ‘choir uniform’ of red and black, and this required a new red blouse for Miriam too.

Here we are, with the choir. Miriam and I sang in front of her friends, people she lives with, her family and my family. It was a great afternoon for both of us.