Heads Up! Drum Works X PACE Foundation

Drum Works are joining forces with the Thomas Crosbie PACE Foundation for this special Mental Health awareness & fundraising event, featuring live music and DJs from the Drum Works and PACE Foundation community.

Too many people – especially young men – are struggling with their mental health. In the past eight years, two members of the Drum Works community have taken their own lives and one lost his life to addiction. The Thomas Crosbie PACE Foundation itself was set up in memory of Thomas Crosbie, aka PACE, who took his own life in 2016, aged 27.

This event honours and remembers the people we have lost while raising awareness of local networks and organisations supporting young people’s mental wellbeing. Alongside this we are fundraising for the COLDFIRE festival 2026 and to support Drum Works’ ongoing pastoral work with vulnerable young people.

COLDFIRE Festival 2026

The COLDFIRE festival is an annual youth and community-oriented festival organised by the Thomas Crosbie PACE Foundation in Wennington Green, Mile End. The COLDFIRE festival features live performances, open mics, creative workshops, local sellers and much more and is attended by over 500 people every year.

The purpose of the festival is two-fold - to give young artists, musicians and poets a voice and an opportunity to perform live as well as to offer advice and information on suicide prevention and mental health support through the participation of key support organisations. Previous COLDFIRE festivals, have featured performances from major artists such as Hak Baker and Seb Rochford, alongside bands and performers from our partner schools and youth groups, notably Morpeth School and Hackney Quest. We also offer volunteering opportunities for students from roving reporters to tech support to stewarding.

At COLDFIRE Festival 2026 (taking place on Saturday 4th July) the PACE Foundation will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. We appreciate any support you can provide to ensure this year's festival goes ahead!

For more information on the COLDFIRE Festival and the Thomas Crosbie PACE Foundation, visit https://www.pacecoldfire.com/

Drum Works

Drum Works uses drumming as a tool to achieve positive outcomes for young people in East London. Professional musicians deliver weekly high-quality creative drumming sessions with four partner schools, two progression bands and two community groups. Around 500 people participate every week, 85% of whom are under 25. Drum Works collaborates with schools and local partners to reach young people who will benefit most - often from low-income backgrounds, at high risk of exclusion, living with disabilities/special educational needs, and/or with mental health difficulties.

Evidence has shown that participation in Drum Works can help to increase resilience & self-belief, improve educational engagement, develop social & collaborative skills, and improve mental health & wellbeing. This impact is achieved through Drum Works’ long-term relationships with participants, which often span 10 or more years. For some it is the most consistent thing in their lives. Working on a long-term basis like this achieves transformational outcomes for the young people involved, but is challenging to fund! We are grateful for any contributions towards our programme.

“Drum Works has made me see life differently. It’s not just about playing drums, it’s about developing us as young adults and not giving up our dreams.” Drum Works participant, 14

For further details of Drum Works impact, visit drumworks.co.uk/impact.