GVAV supports Lung Health Choir request

 

Recently, the team at GVAV learned of 'The Warblers' request for a new projector. 

The Warblers are a community singing group in East Lothian and Midlothian for anyone living with a lung condition or experiencing breathlessness, including people with long COVID.

They launched in 2016 with seed funding from the British Lung Foundation, inspired by research showing that regular group singing can boost both physical and emotional health for people with COPD.

 

The charity runs regular group singing sessions in Musselburgh and Dalkeith. They also ensure sessions are available online via Zoom for those who cannot attend in person, helping reduce feelings of isolation. 

The Warblers were looking for a projector to display song lyrics at their weekly singing sessions. As part of their normal sessions, they usually distribute song sheets to their participants, but felt that it would be better to display the words on a screen.

"We have been using papers for song words, while reading the words from the sheets, people often start gradually leaning forward and have a little hunchback. This can significantly affect breathing, particularly for people living with breathlessness. When we used the screen, it encouraged our members to sit in a more upright position, which improved their breathing and allowed them to create fuller sounds when singing. This immediately helped to improve confidence."  

GVAV, a long‑standing supplier to the University of Edinburgh, brings over 50 years of expertise in designing, supplying, and maintaining professional Audio Visual solutions. As part of the University’s commitment to ensuring suppliers deliver positive social impact, GVAV stepped forward without hesitation.

Giving back is already part of who they are. Through their initiative, GVCARES regularly donates high‑quality equipment they no longer need, ensuring it goes straight to organisations and individuals who can put it to good use. For GVAV, passing on resources they no longer use isn’t just practical, it’s genuinely rewarding.

GVAV were able to support The Warblers by donating a projector - a Panasonic PT-RZ370, along with the power cable and an HDMI cable to connect to a laptop, which has already been put to good use.

Sharing the words on screen for the whole group has helped everyone's posture and breathing while singing. 

And as an extra bonus, it saves on printing costs and paper!

Fraser Simpson, Account Manager at GVAV, said, "When reviewing community needs, the ESES Communities Portal made it clear that The Warblers needed a projector to display song lyrics, helping members sing along with ease while also reducing paper waste. We were delighted to donate a repurposed projector, which our team checked, delivered, and set up. We selected a product that was sufficiently bright for daytime use in a brightly lit room. We have received fantastic feedback that the group love this and that it is even helping with their posture! We are pleased to have provided the right solution at the right time."