Homeless choir breaks down barriers and provides support this Christmas 

The Choir With No Name offers a safe space to homeless communities in Cardiff, as the number of households in temporary accommodation reaches record high

A Cardiff-based choir provides an opportunity to sing, a hot meal and a sense of community for homeless people this winter, as the latest Welsh government statistics found a 20% rise in the number of households identified as unintentionally homeless compared to last year.

The Choir With No Name hosts weekly rehearsals at St Paul’s Community Hall in Grangetown and provides a welcoming environment for people impacted by homelessness and marginalisation. The choir is run in partnership with The Wallich, a Welsh homelessness and rough sleeping charity.

According to the Welsh Government homelessness statistics for April 2023 to March 2024, 6,135 households were identified as unintentionally homeless and in priority need, an increase of 20% on the previous year.

The number of households in temporary accommodation was also up 18% on the previous year, marking the highest figure reported since new legislation under the Housing (Wales) Act was introduced in April 2015.

As well as an increasing number of members, the choir currently has nine volunteers, who provide the singers with a hot meal after every rehearsal. Oona Terrile, the choir’s manager, said: “Some of our volunteers have said that being in the choir has broken down barriers and perceptions of what they thought homelessness looked like.

“We have people coming from all different backgrounds and it just shows that being homeless comes in many forms and it can affect anyone,” she added.

The choir also hold frequent events showcasing their efforts in rehearsals, including an upcoming Christmas concert at St John’s Church, on 10 December.

The choir’s main aim is to create a supportive community and a constant environment which people can go back to each week, said Terrile. 

“It’s a place for them to be able to let their hair down,” she added, “and just sing and get those endorphins up.”