Rose Kimberly and Claire Williamson join Alexa to discuss the South West Voice Hub, a network they created to connect voice practitioners and singers in the South West of the UK. The hub aims to provide a local network for all things voice-related, including referrals, training, and support. They discuss the challenges of finding voice professionals in the South West and the importance of building a community in the region. The hub offers different membership tiers for practitioners, singers, and students, with benefits including access to forums, discounts on CPD events, and a profile on the website. They also mention their upcoming launch event, which will feature workshops and networking opportunities.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The South West Voice Hub is an initiative by Rose and Claire to establish a network for voice professionals in the South West region of the UK. It aims to connect various practitioners such as vocal coaches, speech and language therapists, and performers.
• The hub provides support and resources for professional development, including bi-monthly online forums and in-person seminars for continuing professional development (CPD).
• The network addresses voice-related issues and promotes local talent, aiming to make specialised voice services more accessible and affordable within the South West region.
• The hub offers different membership tiers for practitioners, singers, and students, with benefits such as access to forums, discounts on CPD events, and a profile on the members’ section of the website.
• The hub’s launch event in Exeter will feature a laryngeal massage workshop and a vocal triage session for singers. The network plans to be responsive to the needs of its members, offering events and training that reflect the interests and demands of the local voice community

BEST MOMENTS 

“We want to make voice services more accessible and affordable, reducing the need to travel to larger cities.”

“It’s important to work holistically with people, and having a network of professionals is crucial.”

“We’re aiming to support and educate the local voice community, making it stronger and more connected.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

Guest Website:

• southwestvoicehub.com

Social Media:

• Instagram: @southwestvoicehub
• Contact Claire & Rose directly: southwestvoicehub@gmail.com

Relevant Links & Mentions: 

• Stephen King: voicecarecentre.co.uk/stephen-king
• (Singing Teachers Talk Podcast) Ep.90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem with Lydia Hart and Stephen King
• Exeter Phoenix Centre: exeterphoenix.org.uk

BAST Book A Call

ABOUT THE GUEST 

Rose Kimberley is a Vocal Coach/Singing Teacher based in South Devon, where she runs The Vocal Studio Devon. Trained in 2012 with BAST, she has enhanced her skills through various CPD courses, including VHE’s Vocal Health First Aid. A professional singer and solo artist, Rose combines industry knowledge with a passion for helping others develop and care for their voices. She also teaches music, artist development, and songwriting for the Barbican Theatre in Plymouth.

Claire Williamson trained as a singer at LIPA and worked professionally as a singer and actress before becoming a Speech and Language Therapist at UCL. She has extensive NHS experience with children’s speech, language, and communication needs, and now works in private practice with both adults and children with voice disorders. Claire specialises in client-centred, evidence-based treatment of voice difficulties, with a special interest in helping professional voice users.