Bombo Productions

Who we are

Bombo Productions has been established in Hackney sine 2007. We are an unincorporated association. We have three trustees, five part-time freelance employees and eight volunteers. We work with intergenerational, diverse community groups through the medium of Afro-Latin American singing and percussion-based music. We provide regular and one-off events in our local community aimed at motivating creativity, building confidence, personal development, self-discipline and team-building skills, which are transferable to other areas of people’s lives including education and careers.

Charitable events, the participants, how many and time period.

2018 – Present Coro de Clave Community Choir. A choir based around Afro-Cuban songs. We meet weekly and perform regularly. 

2018 – Present Moving Voice. Provide female survivors of human trafficking support and free access to our choir and drum workshops.

2007 – Present Afro-Cuban Music Night. A monthly free night of music and dance. Hackney. 

2019 – Present Young Persons Gifted & Talented Percussion Project. We are providing a couple of free places on our course well as a mentoring program for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have demonstrated a talent in drums and percussion. This program starts in November. 

2007 – 2013  Week-long Rhythm Summer School . Children 6-18 years and Adults. Hackney.

There is a strong need to provide resources to two groups of people in our local community of East London, namely:

• Local youth
• Women who have been the victims of trafficking and exploitation
• Community cohesion

LOCAL YOUTH

There has been a significant drop in funding for youth services in recent times, and issues such as knife crime are dominating the media.  Giving local youth the chance to engage in different activities can be a life changing experience.  Bombo is looking to provide spaces for gifted and talented young people in its percussion classes.  Participating in these classes will benefit them in several ways:

• Providing a safe place to learn
• Encouraging self-discipline and focus in a different environment
• Developing self-confidence through interacting with a diverse group of students to create something new and unique.
• Opening up new pathways for learning and possible career opportunities that would not otherwise have been available, either through a lack of resources or lack of knowledge of available options

TRAFFICKED WOMEN/ REFUGEES

There are significant numbers of women who have been victims of exploitation and trafficking.  Currently, they have few resources to help them to integrate into the local community, and their lives can often be lonely, worsening their already poor circumstances.  By giving them access to our services, we have shown that we can:

• Help them to socialise and integrate better into the local community
• Give them the confidence to find their voices in a safe space
• Increase their confidence and give them hope in what is otherwise a bleak situation for them

COMMUNITY COHESION

In the current climate, where people are becoming socially disengaged because of a focus on online activities, it is more important than ever that organisations like ours can provide services that create person-person interactions and creative community spaces.

Community music making is medium through which disparate members of the public can engage regardless of race, gender, religion, class or political affiliation. Bombo Productions does more than just provide music classes. We provide opportunities for social engagement outside of class time in order to facilitate a safe space where people can develop lasting friendships and become part of a meaningful community.

About the Directors

Dr Vicky Jassey:  The founder and Artistic director of Bombo Productions, Dr Vicky Jassey, is a teacher and musician specialising in Cuban folkloric music.

Dave Pattman:  the musical director, has over thirty years of experience performing and recording with some the world leading Latin music stars.

Driven by a passion for the profoundly rich cultural traditions from Latin America, Vicky and Dave set up a charitable foundation with a vision of making this rich inspiring art form accessible to all. Their belief in the emotional and physiological benefits of group music making is back-up by extensive empirical scientific research.