Latest news with #BigNoise
Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Scottish Secretary gets to know The Big Noise
The Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Ian Murray, went back to Wester Hailes to visit The Big Noise, the pioneering music and social change programme. Mr Murray grew up in Wester Hailes, and he visited the social change programme based on orchestral music to see – and hear – first-hand how its work is tackling inequality and helping children, young people and families in the area. During his visit to the project at Canal View Primary School, Mr Murray was told more about the programme, which provides music tuition, instruments and nurturing support to primary school pupils to help them fulfil their potential and reach their goals. He watched music lessons, met young people on the programme and enjoyed a performance from the pupils. He was shown around by the charity's chief executive Vicky Williams and the chair, Benny Higgins. Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme, which launched in Raploch in 2008. Children and young people learn music after school, creating a community symphony orchestra which supports them in gaining vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration. The charity works intensively with children, young people and families in targeted communities, using the symphony orchestra as a community to help children gain life skills and experiences. There are now six centres supporting almost 4,000 children and young people across Scotland, including Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Govanhill in Glasgow, Douglas in Dundee, Torry in Aberdeen, and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, which is its newest centre and opened in 2022. Big Noise Wester Hailes now reaches more than 550 children a week, working in partnership with Clovenstone, Canal View and Sighthill primary schools. It 'supports young people to reach their full potential by helping them develop vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration, while also strengthening community ties through music and nurturing relationships'.. Mr Murray said: 'Returning to Wester Hailes, where I grew up, and seeing first-hand how Sistema Scotland's Big Noise programme is transforming young lives was genuinely moving. This innovative programme doesn't just teach music – it builds confidence, resilience and aspiration in children who deserve every opportunity to succeed. Tackling inequality and poverty is a key part of the UK Government's Plan for Change. 'The progress made since Big Noise launched in this area is remarkable, now reaching over 550 children each week. As someone who knows this community well, I'm particularly proud to see such positive investment in these young people's futures, equipping them with vital life skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.' Vicky Williams, Chief Executive of Sistema Scotland, said: 'It was fantastic to welcome Ian Murray to Wester Hailes to share more how our work tackles poverty and inequality, builds confidence and resilience in young people and helps them both inside and outside the classroom. 'Our 'more than music' approach is really bearing fruit in our older programmes, where we are now seeing people who joined us as primary school pupils move into work, study and really positive lives. 'It is clear that Big Noise, through nurturing and supportive relationships, helps children and young people reach their full potential by equipping them with vital life skills and enhancing their academic skills. 'We also know that taking part in Big Noise increases confidence and self-esteem, as well as participants' creativity, aspiration and sense of belonging.' Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
How the power of music brings communities together
From the first time I picked up a trumpet at school, to playing with some of the country's leading bands and orchestras, making music has helped me through difficult times, introduced me to new people and sparked moments of joy. As chief executive of music and social change charity Sistema Scotland, I am honoured to help bring that sense of community to children and young people, families and volunteers throughout Scotland. Our Big programme is thriving in six communities around Scotland – Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Govanhill in Glasgow, Torry in Aberdeen, Douglas in Dundee and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh. We provide free high quality after-school music sessions and support to nearly 4,000 children and young people. We have watched children grow up, got to know their families and become a community hub. We use the power of music and nurturing relationships to change lives and help people fulfil their aspirations. We recently enjoyed a performance by our Big Noise United Orchestra. In the week before the concert, they took part in a residential trip, with fun activities and adventures as well as rehearsals. Hearing them chat brought home how they all felt part of something bigger than themselves and how the orchestra is laying a firm foundation of a lifelong community. Right now, our older students are on exam leave. It's a stressful time for many. We have an open-door policy, providing extra support and reassurance in a way that suits them. We are running extra sessions for those taking SQA music exams – giving them help and reassurance. When young people join Big Noise, their families become part of our community. We run community orchestras, choirs and music groups throughout Scotland, which are a weekly point of connection for adults, helping with loneliness, yes, but also having fun. We have a community orchestra, community choirs, and a ukulele club. Connections are made organically too. One family are new Scots. Their mother knew no one when she arrived in Glasgow. Big Noise gave her a sense of belonging, of support. Someone to have a cup of tea with – and she has gone on to get a degree and is busy setting up her own social enterprise. Another parent has spoken of the sense of community and companionship she got when she brought her two young sons along to our Little Noise classes for babies. She was inspired to volunteer and has now found work. Every day at Big Noise, I see how having strong connections with others and being part of a supportive community makes us happier and improves our lives. The power of the orchestra to help people belong is something I experienced myself, and by providing these opportunities to children and young people in Scotland we can be part of creating this for future generations. Vicky Williams is chief executive of Sistema Scotland Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@
Scotsman
06-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Edinburgh City Council leader visits Sistema Scotland's Big Noise Wester Hailes centre
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now Edinburgh City Council leader Jane Meagher visited a pioneering music and social change programme based in the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh to see first-hand how it is transforming lives. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Jane Meagher met participants and staff at Big Noise in Wester Hailes, including the charity's chief executive Vicky Williams and head of centre Stewart Wilson. Ending poverty in the city is one of the council's strategic priorities and, during her visit, Ms Meagher found out more about how the programme was transforming the lives of children and young people in the area. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She watched a special performance by young primary school participants and a show by older students who graduated from the first Big Noise centre in Raploch. Big Noise participants perform for Edinburgh City Council leader Jane Meagher She also met family members from the community to learn about the impact of the programme on children and young people as well as the wider community. Big Noise Wester Hailes is Sistema Scotland's newest centre and opened in 2022. It now reaches more than 550 children a week, working in partnership with Clovenstone, Canal View and Sighthill primary and nursery schools. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The centre began working with all children in P1 and P2 and expanded to reach those from nursery to P3 over the course of its first year. Jane Meagher with Vicky Williams at Big Noise Wester Hailes It will continue to grow year-on-year, retaining the involvement of the children as they age and introducing the next generations of nursery and P1 children, and ultimately work with babies through to school-leavers in Wester Hailes, as well as offering opportunities to stay involved in the programme as adults. The centre recently held a two-week spring holiday club, providing free activities and food for nearly 50 children during the school break. Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme, which sees children and young people learn music after school, creating a community symphony orchestra which supports them to gain vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It supports young people to reach their full potential by helping them develop vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration, while also strengthening community ties through music and nurturing relationships. Jane Meagher meets Big Noise young musicians Eloghosa and Bella. Studies of the Big Noise model have found it enhances academic skills, including listening, problem-solving, and concentration, as well as increasing participants' self-esteem, their sense of belonging, and happiness. Sistema Scotland now runs six Big Noise centres supporting almost 4,000 children and young people in communities around Scotland including Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Douglas in Dundee, Torry in Aberdeen, and Govanhill in Glasgow. Big Noise is designed to strengthen the communities where it is based, developing relationships with participants and their families based on mutual respect, trust and a commitment to working together and tackling inequalities for the long term. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Targeted in the areas of greatest need, it uses music and nurturing relationships, from infancy to adulthood, Big Noise supports participants' wellbeing and helps them reach their full potential. Edinburgh City Council leader Jane Meagher said: 'It was fantastic to visit Big Noise in Wester Hailes and see first-hand how excited the children were to make beautiful music. Music education is hugely important for children and young people of all ages, with research showing that it can support the development of crucial life skills such as creativity, relationship building and resilience while also helping to build confidence and enhance emotional wellbeing. 'We are committed to tacking poverty in our city and community-based projects such as Big Noise are doing brilliant work in the Wester Hailes community and beyond to transform lives through music. It is important that we encourage creativity and offer broader access to music education to learners of all ages, and I'm pleased to see Big Noise supporting our wider efforts across Edinburgh to make music accessible and inclusive for all.' Vicky Williams, chief executive of Sistema Scotland, said: 'Our mission is to tackle poverty and inequality and we are delighted to work with Edinburgh City Council on our shared mission to transform lives and help children and young people reach their potential and fulfil their ambitions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are incredibly proud of how far the children we have been working with have come in the past three years and are excited about what the future holds for them and our programme as we grow. 'We are always delighted to be able to showcase their achievements and we were all thrilled to share their work with Jane Meagher today. 'It is clear that Big Noise, through nurturing and supportive relationships, helps children and young people reach their full potential by equipping them with vital life skills and enhancing their academic skills. 'We also know that taking part in Big Noise increases confidence and self-esteem, as well as participants' creativity, aspiration and sense of belonging.'
