The Don’t Stop The Music Instrument Amnesty encouraged members of the public to dig out their unwanted instruments and get them into the hands of the UK’s youngsters via Oxfam. Now the amnesty has stopped accepting instruments, we look back at some of the most generous donations and supporters.

One group particularly passionate about young people having access to instruments was South London Community Music, an umbrella charity which works to bring members of the local community together through music and dance. It organised a charity collection and gathered a fantastic 17 instruments to donate to the amnesty.

"We were motivated to ask our members to donate instruments after watching Don’t Stop The Music," said Bob Bridges, Music Director. "With both a concert band and a swing band within our charity, and a community-focused ethos in all we do, we were just delighted to hear about this initiative and to be able to provide some support. Our members get enormous fun from making music together, and hope so much that the work of Don't Stop The Music will encourage many more children to learn an instrument so they too enjoy making music throughout their lives."

From down south, Brighton-based instrument wholesalers Strings and Things donated 10 Woodstock acoustic guitars to the amnesty. “We were originally approached about it in July earlier this year," said Artists and Media Executive Alex Byford. "I took this idea to the company directors, who decided in a heartbeat that this was a great cause and that Strings and Things should be involved in whatever capacity we could.”

“The guitar is a great place to start a musical education. It’s fun, and at a basic level it’s possible to be able to play your favourite bands’ songs."

"What could be better in the classroom, than impressing your friends with a rendition of the latest Vamps tune?”

Elsewhere Oxfam’s Kentish Town branch received about 18 percussion instruments from a single donor, which included a guasa drum and a wooden agogo. "Many of the people we had donating said they never had instruments when they were young, hence why they were so keen to get involved in the amnesty,” explained store manager Keith Matthews. “We've had such an incredible response, almost 30 instruments were donated in the space of a week. All my team here have worked hard but it's been so much fun. We hope they do this again soon.”

It was a similar story at Oxfam's Hitchen shop. "Thanks to the generosity of the Hitchin community, the Don't Stop The Music was a big success for our shop," said Volunteer Coordinator Nikki Read. "We took 40 instruments, including a 3/4 cello, several violins, clarinets, guitars, trumpets, French horns, saxophones and a trombone. People really liked that they would be able to track their instruments and were also appreciative of Oxfam's involvement in the campaign."

Other amnesty heroes included a donor in Canvey Island who handed over an assortment of bugles, cornets, side drums, glockenspiels and big drums, and a music enthusiast in Twickenham who donated an incredible 50 recorders, as well as a number of Irish whistles, Yamaha fifes, clarinets, guitars, violins, music stands and ocarinas.

But it's not only the multiple donations that should be highlighted. Every single instrument received – from the tiniest Jews harp to the biggest cello – will make a huge difference to the school chosen to receive it. We thank each and every one of you who parted with your instrument – so it could bring joy to a new generation, or helped us get the word out there. We couldn't have done it without you!

Missed the amnesty? Read our suggestions for five alternative ways your unwanted instrument could make a difference.

Instrument Amnesty