#76 Companion Voices with Judith Silver

In this episode it is my pleasure to talk with Judith Silver, founder of Companion Voices. I learn about the origins, development and current work of Companion Voices.

Judith shares what Companion Voices offers to people who are dying and describes how groups normalise conversations around death and dying.

We talk about raising awareness of Companion Voices and how this could fit with a person’s Advance Care Planning.

Key messages from guest

• Judith shares her experience as a teacher, singer and songwriter and how this led to the development of Companion Voices

• Companion Voices is described as a process where people can develop a set of songs for bedsides and explore their own relationship with death and dying

• Companion Voices can be called to attend the bedside of a dying person

• Judith describes the exercise of singing and active listening and how this builds a compassionate environment of support for all Companions

• The administrative, financial, pastoral and songwriting are key elements of a group

• The songs are described as a deep sharing experience not a performance

• Judith is working towards raising awareness, enabling people to have conversations earlier and identify if they would like Companions to sing for them

• Companion Voices is a free service, there is no cost to the person for whom the Companions are singing

• Judith introduces three excerpts of music to introduce us to Companion Voices

Resource

• Access the Dr Kathryn Mannix video Dying for Beginners

• Find out more about the Theos Think Tank  

• Find out more about Companion Voices  

• Find out more about the Threshold Choir  

• Read about how Funding from W3RT helps Companion Voices become more sustainable 

• Find out more about the Natural Voice Network  

Bio: 

In our culture, it's the exception rather than the rule that a dying person has the option of hearing those around their bed singing for them. Elsewhere in the world, and in time, this was not the case. Judith Silver, founder of Companion Voices, wants this to be a choice everyone can make and we have witnessed first-hand, time and again, the comfort our voices can bring and the difference they can make, to those who are dying and to those around them. Judith founded Companion Voices in 2014 and since then has grown to include eleven groups around the UK. 

For more information please visit www.companionvoices.org.