Drum and Brass CIC presents
Local people. Hidden talent. Real change.Local Heroes used music, creativity and community action to help six people discover their strengths and grow into leaders.
The barrier was often getting through the door.
Capability was already there.
Over twelve months, participants received training, mentoring, practical delivery opportunities and peer support. What began as volunteer training became a space where people could recognise what they already had to offer.
6
local people supported through a year of development
5 in 6
participants identified as neurodivergent
100%
of the programme aims achieved
£13,657
“
Attendance was affected by anxiety, but performance wasn’t. Once people were there and got going, the anxiety went.
Julie Hoggarth, Project Manager
STRENGTHS BROUGHT INTO VIEW
The people achieved more than they gave themselves credit for.
The barrier was often getting through the door.
Practical activity revealed skills that formal evaluation forms often missed.
01 Leadership
02 Mentoring
03 Creative thinking
04 Safeguarding
05 Event planning
06 Community engagement
WHAT WORKED BEST
Learning became powerful when people could use it.
Every activity achieved a positive average score. The four highest rated activities were practical, creative and collaborative.
PLAYCATIONS
MAKING MASKS
PRIMARY SCHOOL SESSIONS
BRASS ENSEMBLE MASTERCLASS
INDIVIDUAL JOURNEYS
Confidence grew into action
Practical activity revealed skills that formal evaluation forms often missed.
Sandra
Helped develop a youth wellbeing resource and went on to manage Cumbria Youth Brass Band.
Chloe
Moved from low confidence to naturally mentoring new players at beginner sessions.
Cassie
Built the confidence to establish a new brass initiative of her own.
Raven
Planned activities, developed digital resources and supported mental health awareness work.
"To see the joy on children’s faces when they discover they can make music is priceless."
LEARNING FOR THE FUTURE
Design support around how people actually participate.
Practical activity revealed skills that formal evaluation forms often missed.
Use shorter, modular programmes: Smaller milestones can maintain momentum while leaving enough time for trust and confidence to develop.
Offer a named mentor: A band buddy or key worker can help people manage anxiety and navigate early barriers.
Recognise achievement: A simple community arts qualification could turn newly visible skills into further opportunities.
Prioritise practical learning: Hands on activity produced stronger engagement than classroom or online learning.
Last summer our heroes all completed Tabby Kerwin's Perform mental health training course with a focus on well being in community music groups. This involved important discussions around how we can spot when someone in our groups might be struggling and how we can support people's diffrent mental health needs so they can flourish in our creative sessions. Local Hero Cassie created "My Band and Me" a mental health resouce for brass bands which included a poster designed to be hung in our rehearsal spaces sign posting how members can access help and support and detailing each bands comitment to the well being of it's members.
Summer Sessions
Over the Summer holidays of 2025 Julie, Raven, Sandra, Kath and Cassie led a series of music making sessions for young people across Barrow in Furness. Part of the "Playcations" project the team spent two weeks in various locations around the town. Armed with our plastic instruments we led vibrant have-a-go work shops which saw young people picking up trombones and cornets and forming instant brass bands. This inititive allowed our participants to gain invaluable skills in leading groups of young people in music making. These skills have since proved to be useful in other parts of the project.
School Sessions
Raven and Kath have been putting the skills they learned over the summer sessions to great use in our local schools. They are now both able to lead lessons and have been doing just that for a full term in four different schools where they have been delivering Drum and Brass's six week BAND! programme.
Conducting Course
Led by Julie, some of the Heroes attended a course on conducting for community ensembles.
Safeguarding Training
A highly important aspect of our Local Heroes program was taking part in safeguarding training, meaning we are all now trained to spot and handle any wellbeing or welfare issues that might arise in our groups. The training comes with a certificate from Brass Bands England.
Band Weekender
As part of the delivery side of our project, the Heroes organised and delivered a "Brass Band Weekender" in which members of bands from across Cumbria gathered in Kirkby Stephen to put together a "concert in a weekend". Julie hosted a discussion on mental health in bands during the weekend. This was inspired by Cassie's "My Band and Me" mental health initiative.
Inclusive Prcatice Training
Our heroes have all taken part in incusion and diversity training which saw them leading importnat discussions around things such as uncouscience bias and privilege. Invaluable lessons for anyone who wants to lead community groups.
Individual Achievments
The programme has seen Chloe move into a mentoring role in her local community band, helping other players on their musical journey. Heather has used the confidence gained from the programme to take up the challenge of playing soprano cornet in her local band.
What becomes possible when people feel trusted?
Local Heroes makes a clear case for patient, flexible and inclusive community arts. Read the full evaluation to explore the evidence, participant feedback and recommendations.