Big Lottery Fund
 Printable version
|
£1.8m funding boost for Scotland's next generation of musicians, dancers and artists
Budding young artists, dancers and musicians are amongst hundreds of young people across Scotland celebrating a £1.8 million cash boost that will empower them to develop their skills and talents through a range of creative projects.
The cash from the Young Start fund goes to 28 youth led groups which help young Scots to build their confidence and play an active part in realising their potential. See a full list of projects here.
Amongst those celebrating is Lyra, a community based arts organisation in Craigmillar, Edinburgh which receives £82,728 to deliver a range of user led arts activities that will culminate in young people designing, commissioning and delivering 12 of their own unique music and dance performances.
Creative Director, Jo Timmins said: “We are so excited to receive funding to continue our ‘Connecting’ project. Our aim is to enable the young people to take a leadership role over the next three years and we look forward to seeing how this develops. The young people will broaden their horizons through working with professional artists and companies and they will write their own music, choreograph their own dances and so much more. It’s been great to see them realise how talented they are and I can’t wait to see how their confidence grows further as they lead the project.”
Young people in transition between child and adult mental health services will be able to take part in creative art and crafts sessions, as PKAVS mental health and well-being picks up an award of £57,100 to deliver their Lost in Transition project.
One of the young people whose life has been turned around by the project is young carer, Christine, from Perth. She said: “I’m so happy that PKAVS has received funding to continue as it means that more young people like me can be helped.”
“I was referred to PKAVS through the young adult carer service. I’ve been a full-time carer for my mum since I was 7 years old and I’ve found this extremely hard. Before joining I wasn’t doing anything other than looking after my mum which was difficult. I felt isolated, stressed and life was just a mess. Most of all I felt guilty and angry at myself because I felt I couldn’t look after my mum properly.”
“Now I have much more confidence and I’ve learned to be more trusting. I have also learned that I’m quite creative, which is something I never would have thought before. I take part in arts and crafts sessions and I really enjoy doodle art. I’ve been asked to draw on canvas for someone and I’ve also designed my next tattoo! I’m now doing a 12 week Princes Trust programme, which I wouldn’t be doing if it weren’t for PKAVS!”
In Edinburgh, The Fruitmarket Gallery will bring young people and professional artists together to deliver ‘Fresh Fruit’ a co-produced programme of activities and cultural learning events, thanks to an award of £99,903.
Dr Fiona Bradley, Director of Fruitmarket Gallery, said: “Young Start’s commitment of three-year funding for Fresh Fruit, our youth led programme, will enable young people to work together and with artists to co-produce a range of creative activities to support their wellbeing, develop skills and build connections. We are pleased to be able to provide creative opportunities to more young people, including those who face barriers to accessing culture.”
Meanwhile Beatroute Arts will provide music workshops and other creative activities for young people in the North East of Glasgow, thanks to an award of £69,300, while Oi Musica CIC in Edinburgh picks up £15,568 to provide free music taster sessions in brass and street-drumming for up to 300 budding young musicians.
Young Start is delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund and awards dormant bank and building society cash to youth led projects.
Announcing the funding, totalling £1,864,384, National Lottery Community Fund, Chair, Maureen McGinn, said:
“Young Start helps ensure that Scotland’s next generation have the best chance by providing them with opportunities to develop their untapped talent and reach their potential. All of these successful projects are designed to engage and inspire young people to follow their dreams while building practical skills and confidence for the future. I am delighted to announce this latest investment totalling £1,864,384.”
Groups wanting to know more about Young Start should visit the website here or contact 0300 123 7110.
Notes to Editors
- Under the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008, the Reclaim Fund releases funds from dormant bank accounts to the National Lottery Community Fund for distribution to good causes across the UK.
- Dormant accounts are defined in the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 as those which have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years.
- The Reclaim Fund Ltd. (RFL), which was established in March 2011 to receive and invest dormant account balances across the UK, transferred the first tranche of monies from dormant bank and building society accounts to the National Lottery Community Fund on 2 August 2011. Scotland will receive an 8.4% share of the total funds to be distributed.
- In September 2011 the Scottish Government formally issued instructions to the National Lottery Community Fund to distribute dormant accounts funding for the benefit of Scotland’s voluntary and community sector.
- At the direction of the Scottish Government, the National Lottery Community Fund established the Young Start Programme to distribute Scotland’s share dormant accounts money. The programme launched in March 2012 and since then has awarded £29.5m to 693 projects
- The National Lottery Community Fund are the largest community funder in the UK awarding money, raised by National Lottery players, to local communities. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.
- We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive.
Original article link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/press-releases/2019-03-21/1-8m-funding-boost-for-scotlandss-next-generation-of-musicians-dancers-and-artists
