Kate Valentine

Singing Mamas

Kate describes herself as an ‘accidental change maker’

She grew up in a tower block in London, was homeless at 15 and had her first child at 19. She’s experienced domestic violence, mental ill health, periods of financial poverty and the stress of being a single mum to 4 children (one with additional needs).

And she has become the leader of a global movement for women’s wellbeing which improves the lives of thousands of mothers and babies every week. If you ask her how she did it, she’ll say . . . “singing”.

Before Singing Mamas existed, Kate was a member of a choir where she found singing helped her manage stress and where her children were welcomed. On relocating, she couldn’t find a choir where she could take her children and it looked like this lifeline was disappearing. Until, that is, a friend persuaded her to start her own singing group where mothers could bring their little ones and so Singing Mamas was ‘born’ The first venue? Kate’s living room.

“This needs to be part of the NHS”

During this time, Kate was working in the NHS as an A&E nurse. On a nightshift in the neonatal unit she had her lightbulb moment. Whilst singing softly to a baby and seeing their little body relax, she recalls the mums from her Singing Mamas group that afternoon telling her what a lifeline it was. Kate realises the impact that her singing group could have on so many more women.

Now she’s a woman on a mission.

Selling her car to pay for a Singing Mamas website, she starts offering the training to more women, whilst delving into medical journals to find out about the impact of singing on mental health. She sets Singing Mamas up as a not-for-profit organisation and recruits a board of directors to help her.

This grassroots movement of women including mamas, nurses, doctors, midwives, musicians, teachers and community workers, has become a UK wide crusade committed to improving wellbeing through singing. Existing because it is suggested that singing has clinically proven benefits in reducing the symptoms of postnatal depression faster than the usual forms of treatment.

From her own lifeline to creating an organisation that now partners with The NHS as a form of social prescribing. This accidental change maker will be sharing her story at the Inspiring Women Awards on 16th May 2025. Event details here