Summary: Scottish Government awards £2.5 million to Sistema Scotland

Scotland, March 11th 2016: The Scottish Government Minister responsible for Culture, Fiona Hyslop, has announced a further £2.5m investment into the continuing work of SRT grantee Sistema Scotland. This will expand the Scottish Government’s support for Sistema’s Big Noise orchestra programme to 2020, taking total Scottish Government funding for Sistema Scotland to more than £4 million since 2012/13. This four-year funding package will support the existing three Big Noise centres in Raploch, Govanhill, and Torry to sustain and develop their intensive, immersive and long-term work with children and young people in some of the most disadvantaged communities.

Sistema Scotland currently works with more than 1,500 children and young people, and today’s funding package will enable it to work with at least an extra 700 young people, aiming to transform their lives, opportunities and prospects by engaging them in Big Noise youth orchestras. Richard Holloway, Chairman of the Sistema Scotland Board, said, “We are delighted by this incredible support from the Scottish Government. It fully endorses the social transformation work done by Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise Centres in the communities they serve.”

Further information from Sistema Scotland’s website: http://www.makeabignoise.org.uk/news-events/25m-transform-childrens-lives