Midlands Hospitals' Choir
Charity 1149642
www.midlandshospitalschoir.org.uk
Overview
Summary
Midlands Hospitals’ Choir appears to be a Birmingham-based participatory arts organisation that uses choral performance as a recurring fundraising mechanism for other charities. Its identity combines a historic connection to hospital and medical communities with an inclusive, open-membership model. Rather than delivering charitable services directly, it seems to create public cultural events, mobilise volunteer singers and audiences, and channel the resulting funds and attention towards health- and children-related causes.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bournville and Cotteridge
Confidence: low
Direct evidence shows that rehearsals take place throughout the year at Saint Lazar’s Hall in Bournville. This is a regular delivery location rather than merely a registered address, but the available evidence does not itself establish the ward.
- Midlands Hospitals’ Choir, Join Us page
The choir states that rehearsals take place throughout the year on Tuesdays at Saint Lazar’s Hall, Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar, Bournville, Birmingham. - Birmingham City Council, Notice of Poll and Persons Nominated
The council lists Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar (Church Hall) among polling locations for Bournville & Cotteridge Ward.
City Centre
Confidence: medium
Direct evidence shows a Birmingham Town Hall performance with partner choirs and an orchestra, and the choir's website also refers to a Town Hall Christmas concert. The venue operator places Town Hall in Birmingham city centre. This supports a secondary public-performance presence in the City Centre, but the evidence does not establish that it is a permanent or frequent operating site.
- Midlands Hospitals’ Choir, website news
The choir reports performing at Birmingham Town Hall with the European Doctors Orchestra, Phoenix Singers and Worcester Festival Choral Society; it also reports fundraising at its Town Hall Christmas concert. - B:Music, Town Hall getting-here information
B:Music describes Town Hall as being in the heart of Birmingham city centre.
Remaining uncertainties
- The available evidence identifies a regular rehearsal venue in Bournville and public performances at Birmingham Town Hall, but does not provide a complete current list of concert venues.
- The choir collaborates with Phoenix Singers, Guilsfield Choir, Worcester Festival Choral Society and the European Doctors Orchestra, but the evidence does not show that these partnerships create regular operational activity elsewhere in Birmingham.
- Fundraising partnerships with organisations such as Music Therapy Works and Guide Dogs evidence charitable support, not service delivery locations or operational sites for the choir.
- The Solihull registered address should not be treated as an operational site: the choir's current website identifies its regular activity location separately in Bournville.
Additional evidence needed
- A current concert programme or annual report listing dates and venues for the most recent full year.
- Confirmation from the choir of whether Saint Lazar’s Hall is its only regular rehearsal base and whether Birmingham Town Hall is a recurring annual venue.
- Evidence of any regular activity in other Birmingham wards, including outreach performances, workshops or additional rehearsal venues.
Areas of work
- Arts/culture/heritage/science
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
Who they help
- Children/young People
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
How they help
- Provides Other Finance
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A cultural platform for charitable fundraising
The choir appears to use concerts not only to advance public appreciation of music but also as its main mechanism for raising money for other charities.
Why it matters
This clarifies that its civic role is intermediary: it converts participation in local culture into financial support and public visibility for other causes.
Show evidence
“Summer and Christmas concerts helped raise funds for CLIC Sargent.”
Source:Charity Commission“The choir was once again supporting Music Therapy Works.”
Source:Organisation“The charity helps other charities or voluntary bodies and provides other finance.”
Source:Charity Commission
Hospital roots have become a broader civic invitation
The choir appears to retain a meaningful connection to medical and hospital professions while deliberately widening participation beyond that original constituency.
Why it matters
This may make the choir a bridge between professional health networks and the wider Birmingham community, rather than a closed occupational group.
Show evidence
“Formed in 1981 in memory of Sir Malcolm Sargent and the charity set up in his name, the choir originally drew its members from local hospitals.”
Source:Organisation“We still have a large contingent from the medical and associated professions but nowadays the choir is open to anyone with a passion for singing.”
Source:Organisation“No auditions required.”
Source:Organisation
Recurring concerts suggest a stable, event-led operating model
The available evidence suggests the choir is organised around seasonal public performances, using a repeatable rhythm of summer and Christmas events to sustain its musical and fundraising activity.
Why it matters
A regular event cycle can create dependable opportunities for partner charities, audiences and volunteers, although the scale and financial reliability of this model are unknown.
Show evidence
“Concerts were held during the accounting period in both 2018 and 2019 in the Summer and at Christmas.”
Source:Charity Commission“This was a wonderful concert held on a warm summer’s day.”
Source:Organisation“Because we raised more than £2,500 for Guide Dogs for the Blind at our Town Hall Christmas concert.”
Source:Organisation
- How charities are selected, and whether the choir prioritises health, children or local causes.
- The scale of annual fundraising, membership, audiences and volunteer contribution is not available.
- It is unclear whether the choir has active partnerships with hospitals beyond members' professional connections.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or accounts showing income, grants, fundraising totals and beneficiary charities.
- Information on membership, governance, partner-selection criteria and relationships with local health organisations.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Concerts were held during the accounting period in both 2018 and 2019 in the Summer and at Christmas. Summer and Christmas concerts helped raise funds for CLIC Sargent.
Charity objects
1. TO PROMOTE, IMPROVE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AND APPRECIATION OF THE ART AND SCIENCE OF MUSIC IN ALL ITS ASPECTS BY THE PRESENTATION TO THE PUBLIC OF CHORAL OR ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS AND RECITALS AND BY SUCH OTHER MEANS AS THE CHOIR MAY DECIDE UPON FROM TIME TO TIME; AND 2. TO FURTHER SUCH CHARITABLE PURPOSE OR PURPOSES AS THE TRUSTEES IN THEIR ABSOLUTE DISCRETION SHALL THINK FIT BUT IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE MAKING OF GRANTS AND DONATIONS.