Our Impact Report

10 years of doing music differently

In 2025, Drum and Brass strengthened the connections between young players, local bands, practitioners and communities across Cumbria.

The year in focus

Music creates more when the connections around it are strong.

Our work has reached beyond rehearsals and performances. It connected schools with bands, young players with new opportunities, practitioners with training and communities with live music.

Recognition

Grown recognition for a practice built around participation, progression and doing music differently.

Partnership

Created stronger working relationships with bands, schools, RNCM Engage and community partners.

Outreach

More routes for children, families and local musicians to take part, perform and belong.

Network

A growing Cumbria Brass Network connecting the people who want to strengthen brass playing across the county.

Governance

Clearer finance and HR responsibilities, focused meetings and more forward planning.

OUR PURPOSE IN PRACTICE

Building connection between bands, young players and the communities around them.

WHERE IMPACT HAPPENED...

One connected musical pathway.

Each strand has played a different role. Together they created routes from first experiences to performance, leadership and countywide participation.

COUNTYWIDE EVENT

BRASS AT THE CASTLE

A family weekend bringing Cumbrian and Lancashire bands, RNCM ensembles, young players and audiences together.

  • 14 bands
  • 4 workshops
  • Around 500 visitors
YOUNG MUSICIANS

CUMBRIA YOUTH BRASS BAND

We have created a place for young musicians to build skills, meet players from other bands and strengthen their connection with the wider brass community.

 

  • 35 plus players
  • Countywide connections
  • RNCM partnership
LOCAL PROGRESSION

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Regular groups created belonging, stronger progression and more coherent links between schools and local bands.

  • 403 attendances
  • 56 sessions
  • 4 performances
INCLUSIVE PRACTICE

LOCAL HEROES

Training, planning and practical delivery helped local people grow in confidence and expand the capacity to deliver inclusive projects.

  • 6 participants
  • 8 skill areas
  • Ideas put into action
CUMBRIA BRASS NETWORK

A network of people prepared to act.

The network brought together the people working to grow brass playing across Cumbria. Meetings explored player support, recruitment and inclusion, while newsletters offered a simple, low cost way to share knowledge across the county.

LISTEN

SHARE

CONNECT

ACT
BEHIND THE WORK

Stronger structures support stronger delivery.

Practical activity revealed skills that formal evaluation forms often missed.

Focused meetings

Fewer meetings, with clearer purpose and stronger decisions.

Forward planning

Moving from reacting to opportunities towards planned organisational development.

Clear roles

Defined HR and finance roles, supported by clearer internal messaging.

Sustainable decisions

Keeping financial sustainability closer to strategic and operational choices.

LOOKING AHEAD

More outreach.
More chances to perform.
More inclusive practice.

Explore the original programme figures, key achievements and organisational priorities behind this story.

READ THE REPORT >>