Thom Bleasdale is the Bookshop Manager at the Victoria branch of Oxfam. He tells us how music helps build a sense of community – in Oxfam's work and his daily life...

"For many, punk may be a loud and obnoxious movement characterised by the Sex Pistols. It is messy and unpredictable, but for me it is about the people behind it and the ethic that it has: inclusive and experimental. No bands in your town? Get your friends together and start one. No talent? Learn as you go! No gigs? Help each other and make it happen. Just make sure to feed the bands, pay for their petrol and give them an even split of what's left of the door money afterwards... if there is anything. No one's in it for the cash and all are welcome. Although we might call that DIY, it's more like Do It Together. And it's not just in punk that music creates a sense of community.

The first Oxfam shop I worked in had some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers I could ever imagine meeting - particularly the music specialists - but it wasn't until I travelled to other shops and met other volunteers that I discovered they were not unusual. Oxfam have so many passionate people volunteering their time to help us raise money to fund our campaign, development and emergency response projects across the world.

Oxfam and I know that communities are linked together by music in all its forms - it is a universal language. Every October we hold Oxjam, a month-long festival celebrating this importance, and in our work around the world we often find ourselves working with choirs or musical groups when we are encouraging people to use their right to be heard and take part in the political processes that affect their lives. Music speaks louder than any single voice. It conveys emotion better than words ever can. That's what I found beautiful in the Year 5 orchestra's performance in the first episode of Don't Stop The Music. It was messy, it was unpredictable, it didn't follow the rules, but this is their punk rock - and they are picking up the rules with time. The thing I loved seeing most was that, in amongst their music, there was one single joyous message from every single kid: "We are here. Listen to us."

Find out more about Oxfam's specialist bookshops and music shops.

Instrument Amnesty