MWC Research

It was the idea of two Scots Guards wives who decided, whilst their husbands deployed in
Afghanistan in 2009, to put up posters at the Garrison to actively encourage and look for ladies
interested in singing together, to help support and give the wives a focus whilst their husbands
deployed.
Though its wasnt sparked by a particular event, it was generally founded around helping
people, whether it be emotionally or through charity.
A letter was written to choirmaster Gareth Malone looking for help and support with the choir.
In January 2012, choir members from Chivenor, Plymouth and Catterick came together to
discuss how best to create a sustainable organization to benefit all military wives, building on
the legacy from the success of the song Wherever You Are. Encouraged by Gareth and
actively assisted by other supporters, including SSAFA, the Royal British Legion, Decca and
20:20 Television, the concept of a Foundation, to act as an umbrella organisation for all
military wives choirs, was born.
The MWCF continues to operate as a volunteer-led organisation providing guidance, music,
network-wide and regional opportunities, start-up funding and support to a network of more
than 74 choirs on British military bases in the UK & Northern Ireland and overseas (Germany,
Italy, Belgium, Cyprus and Brunei). Approximately 2,500 women are actively engaged within
the network.
Both a charity to aid support for military families, but also acts a way for wives, girlfriends and
service women to socialise, express themselves and focus on something.
Can join through their website to find the nearest choir, or start a new one through a guided
process.
The song Wherever You Are was released as a single on 19 December 2011, with the aim of
becoming the 2011 UK Singles Chart Christmas number one, a feat it achieved when it sold
556,000 copies within a week of launch. A section of the cost of the single was donated to
the Royal British Legion and the SSAFA Forces Help charities.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Wives

http://www.militarywiveschoirs.org/