Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Launches New Collaboration with The Cheyne Gang Singing Groups

​

Bringing the joy of singing to people living with long-term breathing difficulties across Scotland

 

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) has today (1 July 2025 – World Bronchiectasis Day) announced a new collaboration with The Cheyne Gang, a charity dedicated to supporting people in Scotland living with long-term respiratory conditions through the power of singing.

​

The Cheyne Gang currently runs ‘Sing to Breathe’ singing groups in Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Scottish Borders, offering a lifeline to individuals with conditions such as COPD, asthma, and bronchiectasis - any condition that causes long-term breathlessness.

​

Through this new collaboration with CHSS, these uplifting and health-boosting singing sessions will be available to people across the country. The collaboration plans to develop new services including groups in the Highland and West Lothian with more areas to follow.

​

“Singing isn’t just fun—it’s good for breathing control and your general wellbeing,” explains Anne Ritchie, The Cheyne Gang Co-Founder. “Research shows that singing can help people to learn to control their breathlessness, breathe more efficiently and become more confident. It is also a bit of a workout – singing is a whole-body event, it can lower heart rate and improve mood. Importantly it also makes people feel more connected and supported.”

​

No singing experience is needed — people can come along and enjoy the music, the laughter, and the company.

​

Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: “Collaborating with The Cheyne Gang means that we can support even more people living with long-term respiratory conditions to take part in activities that benefit their physical and mental wellbeing. At CHSS we are committed to supporting as many people as possible living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid to live life to the full.”

​

In Scotland, 1 in 5 people are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions or Long Covid, including 477,000 living with asthma or COPD and up to 18,000 living with bronchiectasis.

​

Singing group participant Kate Arnott said: “The Sing to Breathe group has proved to be a great place to come. I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis which I'd never heard of and all the more devastating because there's no cure. After coming to the group and singing my head off I feel so much better and have so much more energy and the company is just great. I feel so much better physically and mentally for having been in the company of all the wonderful singers. One of the changes is it's given me a point to look forward to every fortnight to come to the group. It's good to mix with a group of people we're all in the same boat and nobody judges how well or badly you sing - we're all here for the fun.”

​

This collaboration between CHSS and The Cheyne Gang marks a significant step forward in supporting people with long-term breathlessness in a way that’s joyful, inclusive, and rooted in community.