Now an independent Samba School, Sambando began as a two year project partnership between Charnwood Arts, Mantle Arts, North West Leicestershire District Council and Charnwood Borough Council. During those two years this highly successful project raised the band and performed at many events locally and around the country getting involved in a Carnival Arts project in Charnwood and the NWL 'Picnic in the Park' event. With audiences already numbering into the tens of thousands the band became fully independent in the year 2000.