We were delighted to welcome Abass Dodoo, master drummer from One Drum, the UK's leading service provider of authentic interactive African drumming workshops. Abass led weekly sessions over five weeks at both Marlborough House, a CAMHS inpatient service based in Swindon, and Cotswold House, a specialist adult eating disorders service based at Savernake Hospital in Marlborough.

During the weekly sessions, participants had the opportunity to learn about African culture and history through the art of drumming, while learning new drumming skills. The workshops were all delivered by Abass, a highly skilled musician and facilitator who brought therapeutic joy and a taste of Africa to both wards during the sessions. 

The aim of the project was to provide a creative and therapeutic outlet for patients at both services, promoting mental well-being through music and cultural expression. 

Observations during the workshop showed improved mood and reduced anxiety levels among participants, as well as increased social interaction and a sense of community within the wards. 

"It was good to deal with my frustration through the drums" 

"Drumming made me feel better"

"I enjoyed this, it was fun!"

Patient Comments

“Great fun, engaging, positive, and uplifting.”

"feeling good at the end of it. I came out feeling so much more relaxed and happy and was dancing for the rest of the day.”

"It was very nice to do something musically creative. It was fun. Nice to do something different and something we had not done before."

Staff Comments

On the final week, there was an informal ward celebration where participants were able to showcase their newly acquired skills and celebrate their journey together.

At Cotswold House, the Oxford Health Charity and Involvement team were invited to a performance, which also included the opportunity for one service user to play solo guitar whilst accompanied on the drums by Abass. 

At Marlborough House, the workshops were celebrated with the support of 15 members of staff in a joint sharing.

“Young people performed to an audience - great for their confidence, stepping outside comfort zones and receiving positive feedback. ”

The workshops were also a good medium for participants who struggle with verbal communication, as it allowed them to feel part of a group and contribute to a group activity without the pressure to use words. 

Overall, the workshops were a great success, and both wards are keen to develop their drumming skills through continued workshops. 

Thank you to WOMAD Foundation for providing funding to enable us to run this pilot project. The project forms part of Oxford Health Arts Partnership's trustwide music strategy.   

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