North West England
Alzheimers & Dementia
Keith McIntosh is a volunteer ambassador with Dementia UK and Playlist for Life, Keith also leads a drumming with dementia group in Leyland, in north west England.
Cognitive Health
Rick Jupp is an educator, mentor, researcher and musician best known as the co-founder, co-songwriter and drummer of the Mercury Prize-winning band Elbow, with whom he spent over three decades writing, recording and touring internationally. Based in Manchester, his work focuses on the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits of drumming, supporting both neurodivergent and neurotypical people of all ages through performance, education and research.
Mental Health
Steve Shotton is the founder of Rhythm Reaction who deliver therapeutic drumming sessions in the Liverpool area for people living with brain conditions, physical impairment or recovering from illnesses. Their goal is to help people realise their potential, improve self-esteem, confidence and communication skills.
Learn more about Rhythm Reaction
North East Wales
ADHD & Autism
Tanya Jones is a director for The Rockworks Academy, based in north-east Wales, they deliver therapeutic, educational and expressive music provision to vulnerable, hard-to-reach and disengaged individuals. Tanya also tutored for the Clem Burke drum study in 2019, teaching a teenage student with Autism to play the drums.
Learn more about The Rockworks
West Midlands
Tourette's
Greg Storey was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome at the age of 6. He struggled for many years but everything changed when he began to play the drums as a teenager, and found it helped him to manage his tics. He put's this down to the brain power needed to drum, using up the brain power that Tourette’s needs to function. He has taught himself to imagine drumming in his mind, which helps him to be almost symptom free. Greg is based in Stoke on Trent.
South West England
Parkinson's
Through his company, Inspire Drums, Phil Jones has worked with Hartpury University, who joined forces with the Cirencester and Stroud Branch of Parkinson’s UK, and the University of Wolverhampton to explore the potential benefits of drumming for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Wellbeing
Drums4Health was founded by Tamsin Ward in Exeter and offers rhythm-based fitness classes designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing through drumming. The program is inclusive and suitable for all ages and abilities, focusing on community engagement and personal development.
Having spent many years as a Head and Director of Music in schools, Tamsin witnessed first-hand the positive impact that music can have on people’s confidence, communication, engagement, and overall wellbeing. She works with individuals, schools, community groups and organisations.
England & Wales
Hearing Loss
Miriam Dubois is a Community Drumming facilitator with 15 years of experience with a heavy focus on West African styles. Miriam provides community workshops or private events. Being born Deaf herself her enthusiasm to teach drum sessions to SEN or mainstream schools and members of the Deaf and Disabled community is infectious. Miriam's performances include drumming at Glastonbury Festival and at the 2012 London Olympics. She has also performed with Deaf Rave, BSL Celebration with Ruth DA DA Fest and many community events, as well as many Music Festivals around the UK.
Learn more about drumming and deafness