A YOUNG mum in Okehampton is setting up a choir for new mums which allows baby to come along too.

Kerri Hardy, who has a background in singing and musical theatre, lives in Okehampton with her husband Alex and three-month-old baby Lottie.

Missing her old life as a singing teacher and performer, she’s setting up a choir where babies are free to make a noise as their mums learn to sing.

The first sessions will be held weekly at the Ockment Centre in North Street in May.

‘Being a mum can be quite isolating,’ said Kerri. ‘We are actually quite lucky as there are a lot of mother and baby groups in town, but they are all related to baby things. Sometimes it is nice to meet someone you have something in common with that is not related to babies. It’s about mums making time for themselves as they were before kids.’

She said the idea for the choir came about because she missed singing teaching, and realised other mums might benefit from her skills.

‘I was washing up and I thought “I wonder if that would work and if anyone has ever had a choir before like this?”

‘The idea is that is is a relaxed, informal environment where you can bring your babies along. They can sit and sleep and cry, probably, and we can learn songs and techniques along the way. It means the mums are learning skills for themselves without having to worry about about childcare.

‘It should be fun, it could be chaos! I just thought I would give it a go.’

Kerri, originally from Norfolk, first came to Okehampton to be a dancing elf on the Polar Express – where she met her husband Alex who had stepped into the role of Santa Claus at the last minute.

She said her choir would offer a mixture of a cappella, 1960s pop, Tibetan music and Motown, with a bit of Elvis thrown in for good measure.

‘It will be a relaxing, social group but we will learn to sing as well,’ she said. ‘I want to get that balance between making sure the mums go away and feel they have learned something and keeping it relaxed. I should be fun – a couple of hours to start the week, and a stress reliever as well.’

The first sessions take place at the Ockment Centre on Monday mornings, 10-11.30am, on May 7, 14 and 21. To find out more contact Kerri at [email protected].

• Kerri is pictured with husband Alex and daughter Lottie