Speaker 2 (00:00.322)
Hello everyone and welcome to the My Local Marketer podcast. I'm Maria and today I'm speaking with Tomson Chauke. Correct. World Group. Tomson, thank you for coming on and welcome to the podcast. are you?

right.

Speaker 1 (00:13.934)
It's been a long time waiting, isn't it?

has, it's been a long time. We started this conversation. said, was it started this year?

I so, I think so at the beginning of this year.

For people who aren't familiar with you, could you please introduce yourself and what you do?

My name is Tomson Chauke and I wear many hats. I'm a musician. I work with young people with autism. I run a project called World Groove and a band called Limpopo Groove. I'm also a session musician with other bands around Berkshire and London.

Speaker 2 (00:48.45)
You have lots of projects, but you are more focused on a couple of them, aren't you?

I am focused on two things. I also run a radio podcast. I work for B Radio. Yeah. And I'm doing drumming. I'm doing African drumming. So I'm taking African drumming into Baksha and just try to get everyone to find their rhythm. That's what I'm doing. So that one is the main one that I'm doing at the moment for World Groove CIC. And we've been working with young people with autism, young adults with autism.

And it started off slow, but we're filling the room now. So beautiful.

love those two things about you, that you're really deep into the Reading community and actively making a difference and this mission of you just to, as you said, get the groove in everyone.

Yeah, I think part of it is just making sure that we, because Reading is such a diverse community, is such a diverse community and what you find is people live in their little pockets and we don't share our experiences. And part of me, when I came to Reading, it was hard to find friends, that sort of thing. And that just stayed with me. And then I realized because I'm, can,

Speaker 1 (02:09.528)
do drumming. Why not bring people together and bridge those gaps, those bridges and get people talking. So we're using the drum but the idea behind it is to find each other, point each other at, if you've got a problem, it can be solved if you have people around you.

As we said before, that is something I find out about Reading too. There is so much going on, but everything is... you don't know about it. You could be deep into Reading, but there are so many different pockets. I agree, music is a nice way to connect everyone. How have you been able to sort of break across some of those barriers and actively go and reach people where they are?

Using drumming, that's one of the areas that I mainly do. But I didn't mention something, I also run a football team called Sanctuary Strikers, which is al asylum seekers and refugees. And some of us that come to live here and find a home in Reading, it's so difficult to speak English and chasing that bag of air. You you can push each other and start a conversation.

It's intense during playing football, then when you finish, when someone is won, you congratulate them and then conversations start. Drumming as well. What has been happening, especially with the young adults with autism, their carers bring them, but you soon find that parents as well turn up and parents experience different lives and they've got different things going on with their children.

And when they meet, they start talking about what are you doing to solve this problem? How is it going? They share that experience. And before you realize it's a tribe, it's a community.

Speaker 2 (04:00.322)
So you actively started obviously working with children with autism. Has that been then a route for you to actively, you found a group of people and then by word of mouth, you found other people. So it's grown quite naturally. So now like I you've got your own community rather than you are in six different community centers and then it's just grown.

So how it started is, I'd said I came to England and I wanted to find friends, but because I had music with me, I soon find three, four people. And one of them introduced me to work at Pryor Scotch School, a school for young people with autism. And there I met a lady called Louise, and she was trying to put together music activities. And with my experience in music.

I brought my drum and I said I can drum with the young people. We did drumming and I soon found myself carrying on with drumming because they enjoyed it. Every time they come to those sessions, you could see them beaming with smiles and that's how it began. So part of me is if I find something in you and we want to help nature it because so many people have talents but they don't realize because we are so

As parents, sometimes we don't realize our children's talents. So we just send them to what we think is right for them. And me as an outsider, I come in, I see someone drumming, and I see that they've got rhythm. So I want to try and encourage that so that they can become musicians if they want. We've got a few success stories. There's a young person.

a prayer squad that is now singing full time. He plays drums because I've taught him to do so. No one knew he had the rhythm. And those are some of the success stories that you look at and you're like, this is needed. This is something that is needed.

Speaker 2 (06:01.582)
think that's a very valuable lesson as well, not just for children, but adults and everyone. Everyone should be constantly exposing themselves to different things, to try and do different things. Because like said, you don't know what's going to stick. You may think, don't know, ballet or dance or some anything. You may think, that's not for me. I wasn't growing up with it. It's weird, but you may start it and actually just really enjoy it. And from enjoying it, you meet people and you can start a real journey.

Another experience is I've got children as well and being a musician I thought my children would be musicians but one of them surprised me and he was like, no, I play football and I took him football because I had to because that's what he wanted to do and now he's a motor mechanic and then I was like maybe the next one and the next one didn't do what I thought she was supposed to do.

And then the next one I was like, maybe this one. So in the long run, you soon realize that each person has their own destiny and their own identity and their own ways of doing things. And there's something in them that we need to try and find. So expose them to a lot of things.

Yeah, they're not mini copies of you. They may have your personality and traits, but they're not exactly like mini carbon copies. So we said obviously before you have a lot, you know, you've got a family as well. How do you manage to juggle everything? Are you very strict on your timetabling? Is it certain days or times for activities?

I know. Well, we are gods sent. sometimes nature takes its call. You just have to follow your instincts, you know, what comes to you first. And you look around and you judge, is it supposed to happen? Can I do it? But I, yeah, I find time for everything. I do. I don't know how, but I just go for it.

Speaker 2 (07:54.336)
you don't look back, look at your options, you make a decision and then you don't regret it later on because you've made the best decision with the options that you've had according to that time.

Yeah, everything is a learning curve. So don't worry. Just go for it. Because in whoever you meet or whatever you're doing, there's something there that you've learned about yourself.

Yeah, so valuable and then that will help lead to the next decision and the next decision. Another thing I wanted to talk to you about is as you said, you've worked with Pricey School, you've worked with different groups. What suggestions do you have for other people who would like to maybe look at collaborating? You're very good at collaborating. What suggestions do you have for making those relationships with organizations and starting to collaborate?

It is very important, I think, for other people to come together and work on projects. Just see how, where it leads you to, but it will help someone in some ways. So yes, I do encourage people to work together. I'm looking for people to come and work with me because I know what I'm doing helps the economy of Reading. It helps the people of Reading. It helps the children of Reading. It also bring us together and we learn from each other. Like I said, because of

the diverse community we have in Reading. There's so much, there's food. You know, I've learned how to make, to brew a cup of tea now. But when I was growing up, it's not a thing in Zimbabwe. But right now, because I hang out with people, I go out and see them. I can make you a nice cup of tea. So yeah, I think I would like to encourage people to collaborate a lot. I mean, see what others bring on the table. Don't just focus on you and what you do.

Speaker 1 (09:37.504)
it doesn't open up other people that may want your services as well. So I think it's important for people to collaborate. Please come forward.

I imagine there are two roads to this. So it's the people or the groups you know, I want to collaborate with this group. So as you said, approach them and look at it as a two-way thing. What will they get from the relationship? What could you do which is mutually beneficial? But then there is looking for putting yourself out there for other collaborations you may not know. So I suppose, is that just word of mouth, just putting it out there to your network and seeing what comes?

Well, you may have a vision with your project, but at the same time, there may be something out there for you because I mean, as we are working, I think everyone in the industry is looking for the new person to come to their products. So it's very important that you stay relevant. You also open up to new ideas, that sort of thing. So it brings a lot of elements into it.

think that's very valuable advice actually. So, like I said, have this vision, but be open to changing it.

Yeah, there's a lot of people that like different things. So you may come here saying, I want you to do this for me. But if you go there and say, can you try this? And then when they try, maybe they soon like it. Or you soon find out that they've got more for you as well.

Speaker 2 (11:03.49)
So go with an idea but be flexible. Now you have, I imagine, different audiences. I know you focus on children with autism, but music, this is one of those tough things because that could be anyone from any background, any class. So do you focus on specific audiences?

No, I don't focus on specific audience but it just happens that we're talking about autism because I mean at the moment that's the biggest project that I'm in on. also putting together a festival called World Groove. So with World Groove what we want is we know that there's Chinese, there's Zimbabweans, there is Ghanians, there is Mexicans in Reading and we don't know their music, we don't know their food, we don't know about them.

But there is more that they can bring on the table and we can start enjoying that. So I don't focus only on autism. I focus on everyone.

So it's cultures as well. think cultures is your big thing, what you do, isn't it? With World Groove, it's trying to bring together different cultures.

That's right. Because we're in Reading together, we now live here. I've lived here now 23 years. And I don't see myself graduating anyway, because my children go to school here. So there are other people similar to me. And there's also local people that were born here. They know what they know, but they don't realize that there are other things that they may learn, skills, a different meal, that sort of thing.

Speaker 2 (12:37.486)
That's the beauty of cultures. As soon as you start bringing different cultures together, like you said, you pick up food you like or you pick up crafts or ideas for collaborating or anything that's transferable that could fit into your own life.

Yeah, you and me have been to the Ukrainian cafe and we were served with food. That was delicious. We wouldn't have known about it.

So welcoming as well. It's brilliant. So when you give workshops to your different groups, one of the things I really like, because I've watched you, I know when we, it was I think at Caversham last Christmas, did the drumming there. How do you get people engaged in doing things? Because people I find that can be really stiff and not wanting to interact when they're together, bit nervous about doing the wrong movement or making themselves look silly.

Yes.

Speaker 2 (13:30.828)
How do you get people to loosen up and engage with each other and have...

My drumming are tailored to anyone that has never played music before. So we use our body, we use our voices, we use our hands. And I simplify things, things that we do every day. One of the things that I know people love is, you know, you touch your ears, you touch your nose, you touch your chin, and then that sort of thing. So it's one of the things that I incorporate in. So when you see it standing there, you want to get involved.

you know it's simple you know it's worth that you know so i try by all means to tailor it to anyone that hasn't played drums before

I like that technique because that will transcend not just children, but that's something adults can do as well.

Exactly. Yeah. It looks childish, but it's fun. It's engaging. We're doing it together. You know, in these years that we are in of social media and phones, I find it disturbing that sometimes you're sitting next to someone and you want to say hello or we are in the same room at cafes, that sort of thing. So part of my drumming is also we take away these things that are not human.

Speaker 1 (14:48.48)
and be us, just us and our thoughts and just enjoy being together doing one thing. It's very therapeutic.

Yeah, that's a natural security blanket, it? Having your phone. So, you know, if you don't know what to do, you just go and look at your phone. So, instead of feeling awkward or sitting there...

You're flipping. And that also transcends into once we start meeting and being in a group, unconsciously, we're thinking of others. You're thinking, how are they doing it? Or why are you doing it wrong? And that brings that conversation. think that teaches you as Exuel about yourself that sometimes I need to pay attention to little things that are going on around me for you to align to the world.

I think that's the best way to learn is by actually being with others because I said you can scroll on your phone, but unless you are actively thinking and scrolling in how does this apply to my life and thinking about how to incorporate it, it's not really helping you in any way.

No, not at all. We close the whole world and we consume what is not natural and we consume fake news. But by using drums as a way of unconsciously learning, we come out of that internet or social media and start thinking again about ourselves.

Speaker 2 (16:16.618)
you found has intrigued people the most and piqued their interest about what you do?

I think it's the fun, joy, excitement, working together that is exciting. Because we don't realize that we need each other. We don't realize until we start playing music together, until we start drumming together, we soon realize that, oh my God, it's fun. Someone does something wrong and you laugh. You take that home with you.

Did you see that person? Did see what he was doing? That was fun. Those conversations, it's just beautiful when people come back and say, do you remember that day? Do you remember this?

memories, it's creating memories. So it's when they're doing something with you and they're in the moment, then they take that feeling away. And this is so important for marketing. It's not what you say, it's how you make people feel.

Yeah, that's right. Yeah, I feel I don't know, but I've noticed that people smile. I talk to a lot of people. One day I was walking in the streets and then I met this little young man, five year old that I do drumming with. Their parents are not there because it's an after school club. And he sees me and he's like, Tom, the parents were like, what do you know him? And I was talking to him and that

Speaker 1 (17:43.028)
helped me as well to know his parents. So it's one of those things that I love to see.

Yeah. Again, this idea of music breaking down barriers. I mean, we've made the sound so easy. You've gone into groups, you can collaborate, you can easily break down boundaries. You've got these nice easy techniques for easing people into something by making it look simple. What challenges have you faced in what you do?

there is a lot. is a lot. So by doing this, it's something that I love to do, but then you can't just do it without the financial backup. Yes, I've been volunteering, but I really need to make sure that facilities and equipment and buildings are available for us to bring people together. That's one thing I would like to challenge all the business out there, you the council and whoever.

is involved in saving the community to provide those. We are losing a lot of venues in Reading just because houses needs to be built. I understand people need homes, but also people needs to meet. People need to experience other things like drumming that I do. There are other people that are doing a lot of things, crafting, you name it. I mean, we need to start having those conversations.

I also run that podcast that I do on B radio and I speak to people that are going above and beyond in the community. I see that they are struggling. They are struggling with places, with space, with money, that sort of thing. So those are the main barriers.

Speaker 2 (19:25.656)
What are some of the key takeaways you've picked up from people you've spoken to? Because you must have spoken to, I know you've spoken to a lot of interesting people. There must be some nuggets that stuck with you and go, that's something I need to do.

Being kind is one of the things, you know, because people that are going above and beyond, are kind, they are supportive, they are very helpful. That's the key element to me. And also, when I'm speaking to charities that are helping people, they are non-profit organizations that need support, that are helping someone that needs those services. So, being kind.

Yeah. There are a lot of people in Reading doing really good things and going up a lot of time to help others. It's amazing. That really needs to be brought to the top.

You know what happens is normally we consume more news about Hollywood, stars, millionaires and all that. But there is people that we can touch, that we spend time with, that are not using millions, but they're doing great things. Those stories needs to be shared. They're not shared at all. And I'm, I feel like we need to start from home.

We need to start sharing those stories. That's why it was very important for me to create this radio show where we shine a light on each other. You encourage someone next to you that, you know what, even without millions, because I mean, we sit at home and we watch a movie. I don't relate to that, but I relate to you and me that are sitting right here. And with what you're doing, that can inspire me to go and say,

Speaker 1 (21:13.442)
think I can do it. Let me just go and help someone. Let me go and do something. Let's do these things together. So there are stories that are making a difference that don't relate to millions.

Speaker 1 (21:40.558)
The plan is to keep going. The plan is to keep opening doors for people to interact and inspire each other. That is the main thing. The festival has to take off as well because music does it. Music does it. Drumming is going on in 2026. We've just excited that Worldgroove has just received some funding, but also we need a lot of businesses to join because

the young adults and young people that I work with that has autism. We need to share that story. I didn't know about autism myself personally until I started working with young people. went there for money, but then I realized somebody needs me. Somebody needs to learn social skills. Somebody needs to learn how to personal care, to do stuff for themselves. And it's us people that needs to do that. And

One time I took a young person with autism to a restaurant because I wanted them to experience what we do experience. And what I found is he kicked someone's foot because he was anxious. They didn't know. They started shouting at us. They wanted money from us. People don't know what other people are going through. And a part of me is sharing these stories and making sure that we all understand that

People have a lot going on in their lives. You just need to pay attention and not judge.

Speaker 1 (23:40.898)
Yeah, give them time, go back to them. Are you okay? Is there anything I can do? I know you're upset with me. Those are the kind of words people should use with everyone.

Speaker 1 (24:02.402)
Yeah, I do.

Speaker 1 (24:15.404)
Yeah, I think we touched on this earlier on when we were discussing in terms of businesses going out and supporting community. For them, it's a benefit because people get to see your products. For the community, it also helps them to, I mean, to live a good life. And that way, we all live in a good life. I think that's the most important thing. So,

I would encourage all businesses out there to think outside the box to also making sure that the community that you're serving, they also need to be looked after so that they can come on your doorsteps with smiles, with happiness and focus.

Speaker 1 (25:13.972)
I don't think it's all about money. We can do this in different ways. We're not buying each other here. Just allowing them to do two hours at your work is good. And also allowing yourself to go and be with them and have a chat conversation. That's brilliant because I've got families that come to my drumming. They're struggling with just having someone to talk to.

after a whole day of spending time with your young adult that is autistic and they've got certain things that they want to do and you're like, but I needed to go and buy into groceries. They're anxious. So taking time to go out there and speak to them and just help them do little things. You can do shopping for them. That's good enough. So I'm not saying companies should come to give money. No, companies should just come send your people out there to

spend time just find, I think we need to create some sort of community that also allows time, not money, just time. 10 hours a month is good enough. Two hours spend at someone that has a young person with autism, you go and buy them their groceries. While if they deal with a young person, that's good enough.

Speaker 1 (26:45.612)
Yeah, because they've got a community already. Part of the things that you do for the community is just go out. I know there's so much to do in work, but that doesn't harm to also invest your time in people.

Speaker 1 (27:09.688)
think let's be kind to each other. Let's pay attention to details. Let's pay attention to what is going on around us and not focus on the global issues. Yes, there are things that we need to focus on. We need to know what is going on around, but have you finished what is around you?

Speaker 1 (27:39.534)
Thank Thank you. Thank you for inviting me.