Singing changed my life

First developed for people with Long COVID and delivered in partnership with NHS Wales Health Boards, Wellness with WNO is a singing and breathing programme that has been hugely successful during a six-week pilot programme, which ran from March 2024 to March 2025. This adaptation of the original programme was specifically designed to support people with chronic pain and the key findings from the evaluation make it clear that it’s an intervention that works, with more than two-thirds of participants reporting an improvement in their pain or discomfort.

Owen Hughes, former National Clinical Lead for Persistent Pain, NHS Wales said: “This partnership with WNO has been hugely successful. Feedback from participants has been fabulous with many telling us that being involved in the programme has been life changing. Not only have they enjoyed learning to use breath and song to help manage their pain, but it has also given them the confidence to socialise again. Several participants have said that they’ve gone on to join choirs and some are looking to return to work. The power of music and song has really made a difference to their lives.”

June Evans, Wellness with WNO participant said: “The programme has genuinely changed my life. Before I started the sessions, I was consumed by grief for the life I had before my illness and felt constantly controlled by my pain. Wellness at the WNO has taught me how to tame the pain and every session brings me one step closer to the person I used to be. It has brought joy back into my life and has showed me how to smile again.”

Wellness with WNO is supported by Arts Council Wales via the Arts, Health, and Wellbeing Lottery Fund, and NHS Wales health boards. The WNO pilot programme for Persistent Pain is funded by Welsh Government and delivered in partnership with NHS Wales.

Postscript

Breathing (without the singing) is, of course, a vital part of Live Well with Pain’s Footstep Five where you’ll also find a link to the Breathworks website.