Advice needed on starting a childrens choir/group

[ohsotrying]

Hello,
I know this is not a aibu but dont know where to put it!

So me and a friend are in the process of staring a childrens choir for children and young people who may not be having or had the easiest times ie targeting those who are in foster care (like myself were), who have experienced or witnessed abuse, are experiencing finachel hardship, those who look after someone in the family (young carers), those with mental health problems or just any child who feel they would benefit for being with other young people who may understand something me and my friend wished we had. We are placing ourselves near a train station in a disadvantaged area and be-live we would reach a number of children

What we are questioning is when to have it, we would have the group evrey other week for 1 1/2-2 hours, this wouldnt just be sining but we would provide a hot meal and some time to relax. we cant decide weather a school night or weekend us better

YABU- have it on a school night
YANBU - have it on weekend morning

Any other ideas or tips would be great! of course in current climate we are not aiming to start till this time next year but need evreything together for gratns etc

thank you

Sounds a great idea. Maybe try putting it in extra curricular as lots of musical people there. I would have thought after school would be better if you are doing a meal too. Have you been in contact with anyone else doing similar. The Big noise in Scotland is a huge charity using music to change lives in very targeted areas of disadvantage, maybe have a look at their website, you'll find impact reports etc too which might help you.

What age would the children be? I would think a school night. I would probably discourage my dc (unless they were teens and could take themselves) from doing something on a weekend evening. I want to sit down and relax on the weekend and not be ferrying kids around in the evenings. I recognise that the children involved may not be living with a parent, but I would imagine carers would have similar struggles. Though I think it would be a challenging thing to set up at the moment (isn't there no group singing allowed still?).

I thought school evening to. Hopefully by this time next year it will be okay. Children 8-18 hopefully split into two age groups if we get enough interest

It’s a lovely thing to do. I haven’t voted as I’m not sure which time would be best.

Weekend mornings might be hard for teenagers who like to sleep in, I would have struggled to get up for anything even if I knew I’d enjoy it. After school will be dark in winter, and if they’re in a disadvantaged area would they be safe walking home? Would many of the target demographic have church on Sunday? Maybe Saturday 11-1 would be good?

As someone else suggested, maybe look for similar programmes elsewhere and what their times are.

Weekday.
I think you may have to split your age range regardless of interest though- maybe 8-12, 13-17. And look carefully at implications of including 18yos which are technically adults (in my youth organisation, the 18yos switch to being adult members overnight and needing DBS to be alone with the younger members- even if the other members are all 17yos).

I wish you every success- choir singing can be very good for mental health plus accessible as it doesn't require equipment for the participants. The music does cost though.

Thanks all. Yea thought I'd have to split anyway will look at the 18 thing was looking at some choirs and they went to 18 ideally I'd have 8(or 6)-12 13-17 and 18-25. Then have a group come togther occasionally for any performances. I've chosen a venue close to bus and train station and would like to inculide a travel budget for most disadvantaged. But I want to see how it goes first

Is a choir a good idea right now? Our choir is on hold indefinitely; there's evidence that group singing may produce high risk of covid transmission, compared to other activities. I'd do something else or wait till things are clearer.

Sorry just saw that you meant next year - ignore me!

That's okay yea not know ! Hopefully sep 2021 just grant application take up to 6 months and want o have tome to get it out ther and time thinking about it iyswim