The shape of the training
16 weeks: 8 online, 8 offline
Hello,
Today we want to give you the full picture: the shape of the training from start to finish, before we go into the detail of each part over the coming weeks (and what comes after training).
The October Community Leader Training runs over 16 weeks in total, split into two phases.
Phase 1: The live training (8 weeks)
Weekly live Zoom sessions with your cohort, running alongside online learning modules you work through in your own time. This is where you learn the Singing Mamas method, explore your voice, and start building the skills and knowledge to lead community groups.
Phase 2: Into practice (8 weeks)
After the live sessions end, you have eight weeks to complete the practical elements of the course — sharing songs in your community, observing other leaders, and pulling your learning together into a final reflective submission.
The four parts of the training (Learn, Discuss, Practise, Reflect) run through both phases. We'll go into each one in more detail over the coming emails.
The key dates
Training starts: Tuesday 7th October 2026
Booking opens: Wednesday 17th June, 12.30pm (London time)
Two cohorts (you will pick one)
Morning cohort: 10am to 12pm UK time
Evening cohort: 7.30pm to 9.30pm UK time
The cost
£750 full payment, or three monthly instalments of £260 (which includes a small admin fee).
Full details at singingmamas.org/community-
A note on price
This is likely to be the last round of training at this price. We anticipate a small increase in 2027, so if you've been sitting with this for a while, that's worth knowing.
A note on bursaries
We've offered bursary places in previous rounds and we want to be honest about why we're not doing so this time. Our Equality, Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism subgroup has recently formed, and one of their priorities will be making sure that when we offer bursary places, we do so through a process that is genuinely fair and transparent. That work isn't ready yet, and it would feel wrong to rush it. Bursary places will be back in 2027, with a clear and considered process behind them.
A note on your questions
To everyone who has already filled in the Tell Us About You and Your Community form, thank you! We've read your responses and noted the questions you've raised. We'll be making sure every one of them is addressed, either in an upcoming email or at our live Q&A with Kate and the team on Monday 1st June at 1pm London time (and yes, it will be recorded!).
If you haven't filled in the form yet, we'd love to hear from you. Every week there are women searching for a Singing Mamas group in their town and finding nothing. The women we train in October are going to change that. If you might be one of them, tell us about yourself and your community here.
More detail on each part of the training coming soon.
With warmth and song,
Kate and Singing Mamas HQ
