Thank you for reading...I wish for the warmth and generosity of your heart to be captivated by these brave, diverse and marginalised women for a few moments. What would you need to hear for you to contribute financially towards Ugochi, Aminah and many others who are so far from their homelands, often very lonely, often frightened and certainly exhausted with all that life as a 'refugee' can be?

I started this group in Swansea one year ago with a local one-off start-up grant and I find myself totally enchanted! I couldn't have known the impact our singing group would have but I had a hunch. I now find myself in awe of the women and humbled to see the significance of our gathering and emerging through song, changing lives in ways we could not predict: imagine going to a small local support group to find yourself in public performances for up to 200 people and later being invited to sing at Westminster!

Women have found a voice and it's much more than a singing voice. Walk in and you may find chatter, laughter, tears, cross cultural friendships, creativity, and of course, as we begin our work, the rousing beauty of voices in harmony together. Grace, strength, courage, vibrancy and kindness fill the air and it may just break your heart and simultaneously rebirth it in a moment of unexpected joy and purpose. Fear has less grip in this coming together, you will see people going home filled up with spirit that spills out into day to day life...

Some women come here and sing for the first time in their lives. Or they hear a voice they'd never known they had or never imagined they'd meet again. They greet their growing confidence with awe, and they wonder what else they may be capable of! Some say it's the one activity of the week where they feel alive. This group is an important part of their lives and I so want it to continue and to grow its membership of the local community which will inevitably generate more pathways of integration and sustainable support. It is passionate work we do together. Please will you contribute any amount towards a year of funding?

Monies will be used for:

*A living wage for me to continue my admin, travel, session delivery, extra rehearsals for public performances, training members of the group to lead sessions and conduct the singers at public events in my absence and outreach work informing and recruiting marginalised women.

*Reimbursing bus fares (£4.40 per person - this is nearly the whole days living allowance that seekers of asylum receive and amounts to a significant chunk each week)

*Our venue costs;

*Childcare costs (running a creche)

*Light refreshments for singing sessions

*Printing and advertising

Remember, there's no too small: every voice valued, every quid counts! If a fiver seems too small to bother, these are women who know it's value (it's all they get to live on every day). If many, many give the 'little' you can manage, we can reach a goal. And give more IF you can. If donations exceed the target I'll use them to expand the project - organise extra day events which can involve men and share a meal for example.

Please visit us to like and follow our page for updates, videos and sound files at https://www.facebook.com/sanctuarysisters/

Sanctuary Of Song is guided by the principles and philosophy of the Natural Voice Network (https://naturalvoice.net). At the heart of this movement is the principle that singing is every person's birthright and a recognition that human voices have expressed joy, celebration and grief, and song has bound community in work, devotion and healing for millennia.

May your days meet you with kindness and care..

One last note on fees - this website has a Paypal link which is handy for many of you. If however you don't mind entering your card details, you can donate through the following crowdfund page and your money will go further as the website fees are less than half. https://www.leetchi.com/c/sanctuary-of-song