Helping the homeless through music has inspired the dean of Sheffield Cathedral to undertake a 620-mile (1,000 kilometers) sponsored walk along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail.

Joining her on this journey, which started on March 1, are Tom Daggett, the cathedral's director of music, and Emily Cooper, the music and liturgy administrator and a member of the cathedral’s choir.

“Music unites people from all walks of life, builds community, and forges friendships and connections that can make all the difference when life gets tough,” said the Very Rev. Abi Thompson, who serves as dean of Sheffield Cathedral.

Sheffield Cathedral is the only English cathedral that supports a homeless service on its premises. Known as The Archer Project, it helps homeless people develop the skills needed to overcome setbacks, manage negative behaviors, improve well-being and achieve independence.

As part of this initiative, Sheffield Cathedral has partnered with The Choir with No Name, an organization that creates singing communities for people affected by homelessness. There are currently seven such choirs in cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, London, Coventry, Brighton, Cardiff and Sheffield.

Sheffield’s Choir with No Name meets weekly for a cup of tea, a sing-along and a hot meal prepared by volunteers. The choir aims to improve participants’ self-esteem by fostering diverse communities that celebrate the joy of music. It is regarded as a powerful tool to help individuals regain confidence, tackle personal challenges and secure housing. Participants often express that being part of the choir gives them a sense of purpose and hope.

Cathedral clergy regularly join in the singing with the choir members. The choir performs at various venues — including homeless hostels and community festivals — showcasing a wide range of musical styles.

Members come from diverse backgrounds and beliefs, many of whom are already connected to Sheffield’s Archer Project. Chaplaincy services are available for anyone seeking spiritual support.

Sheffield's Choir with No Name costs approximately $58,000 (46,000 pounds) each year to run, funded through grants and community-based fundraising efforts like the dean’s Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Music’s role in helping the homeless is not new. Daggett has been involved in similar initiatives. While serving as a music coordinator in London, he led the Cantignorous Choir, a homeless group that recorded a Christmas song in 2013.

Speaking at an online conference on the transformative nature of music in 2024, Mark Porter of the University of Erfurt, pointed out: “Music offers opportunities for action and interaction, and an experience that’s often a little bit different from our everyday realities.

“It is a resource we often turn to when we’re in difficulties, and it has a lot of power to transform our experience of the world and our place within it. The presence of a spiritual dimension in the music is something that some people can relate to, something empowering that helps deal with the realities of life.”

Such reactions are evident at The Cathedral’s Choir with No Name. Although it has only been in existence for a few months, it has begun to make a difference.

“I firmly believe that music is one of the most profound and enjoyable ways of finding new connections, confidence and renewed purpose,” Daggett said. “Having attended rehearsals, I can already see how, for some members, this choir is both an anchor and something to look forward to.”

Angela Youngman is a freelance journalist who has written for a wide range of British and international publications.