Family-led bands raise hundreds for Uganda summer school through Drumbeat UK

Wednesday, 10 December 2025 10:59

By Catherine Smyth

Christmas comes to the Drumbeat project in Uganda.

THREE bands played in a charity concert and helped to raise more than £700 towards a camp for 100 children in Uganda in Summer 2026.

English teacher from Whitworth Community High School Peter Williams was involved in all three bands that played at the Drumbeat Christmas Concert at Thrum Hall Methodist Church, Shawclough.

The charity Drumbeat UK was founded by his father, also Peter, and Mugwanya Johnbosco known as John, around 12 years ago and one of the first children to benefit was Peter's sponsor child Resty, who has now completed college and is setting up her own business as a seamstress. Mr Williams’ dad sponsored John’s place in a school in Kampala, then college and university and now he is a director of Drumbeat. His education enabled him to become a freelance air conditioning engineer, and has given back to the charity and the village by building a school

Through the charity Drumbeat UK, more than 100 children now get an education; Mr Williams said that they would not have been able to afford this without sponsors. John also supports in other ways including helping finds homes for people, with the help of Drumbeat funds he can also provide food and medical treatment and he takes care of the village, reinvesting the money that he earns as his way of giving back. Mr Williams said: “At the concert, we had three sets of musicians playing: Whitworth School Band, a rock/Indie covers band The Second and The Drumbeat? “The rock band has been together for a few months and comprises fellow English teacher Mrs Knghtley’s husband Dorian and daughter Sylvie, 14, on keyboards and vocals, myself and my son, also Peter, who is 18, on guitar and drums, and Alvaro Liebana on bass.

“It was the first gig for The Drumbeat? and The Second who are now looking for more engagements after this success. “The Drumbeat? are people who used to play in another band together and have connections to the charity Drumbeat. Most are from my family including my parents, my brother and my daughter Jade, 19. “I write the arrangements for The Drumbeat? and we do quite a range of music – from Chippy Tea by The Lancashire Hotpots to Halleluiah and Fairytale of New York.”

The Thrum Hall concert was a sell out and Mr Willliams is now preparing more arrangements for the next gig with The Drumbeat? and looking for a local venue for The Second to perform early in the New Year to raise more money. The camp is planned for the summer holidays next year, and around £4-5,000 is needed so that the whole event can be free for participants. The UK attendees cover all their own travel, food and accommodation costs.

Mr Williams said: “We also buy and take over all the resources needed for the summer school: craft items, sporting equipment and musical instruments and we leave all the resources for the school to use. “When my son was doing his GCSE Music he had to write his own song about aperson of significance, and he chose John. “We developed it, took the song to Uganda and taught it to the children and we all sang it; it has become the camp and charity anthem. It includes the words that John originally said to Peter when he proposed setting up the charity: I want to give Back.' “At the Christmas concert, The Drumbeat? finished the concert with that song – ‘Give it Back’.”

Drumbeat UK also funds a Christmas party thanks to the sponsors. At the party all the children get a meal and are given a gift. This is often food, but in some cases blankets and mattresses ensuring students and families have enough to eat and somewhere to sleep over Christmas