Category

• Fully Validated Effective Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Mitigation

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Poverty driver

• Provide benefit in-kind (material)
• Provide benefit in-kind (experience)

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Keywords

• Community Engagement
• Education
• Empowerment
• Training
• Health

Aim

• Work alongside communities to provide young people with skills to further their potential both in and out of education.
• Work alongside children and young people in deprived areas to give them further opportunities which in turn, help to break the cycle of poverty.
• Work to create sustained economic and cultural change within targeted communities.
• Create truly inclusive orchestral groups that value individual learning journeys and celebrate diversity.
• Use music to change the lives of children by providing socialisation and focus which in turn benefits confidence and self-belief.
• Uphold children’s rights, both in our rights respecting approach and in ensuring the voices of children and young people inform everything that we do.
• Build stronger communities that grow a sustainable wellbeing economy.

Summary

Big Noise is a social change programme that works intensively with children, young people and families within targeted communities that experience poverty. There are five Big Noise programmes in Raploch and Fallin (Stirling), Govanhill (Glasgow), Torry (Aberdeen), Douglas (Dundee), and Wester Hailes (Edinburgh), supporting around 4,000 children and families every year. Big Noise uses the symphony orchestra as a community through which children gain an invaluable range of life skills and experiences. They develop confidence, teamwork, resilience, pride and aspiration as well as the capacity to work hard, supporting them to reach their potential and lead successful and fulfilled lives.

What difference does it make?

Sistema Scotland has been the subject of various independent research studies which look at the impact of our Big Noise Programmes on participants.
Through their long-term research (since 2013), the Glasgow Centre for Population Health has found that there are seven main areas of a child’s life that can be positively affected by attending Big Noise:
• Educational: Concentration, listening, co-ordination, language development, school attendance, school outcomes.
• Life Skills: Problem solving, decision-making, creativity, determination, self-discipline, leadership.
• Emotional: Happiness, security, pride, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, an emotional outlet, resilience.
• Social: Social mixing, social skills, cultural awareness, diverse friendships, strong friendships, support networks.
• Musical: Strong instrument skills, reading music, performance skills, music career options, access to other music organisations.
• Physical: Healthy snacks, opportunities for games/exercise, creating healthy habits for adulthood.
• Protection: Someone to confide in, calm environment, safe environment, reduced stress.
Research evidence for the impact of Big Noise can be found here:
https://makeabignoise.org.uk/our-impact/research
https://education.gov.scot/media/ph4fqyge/sistemascotlandirvol280917.pdf
There are a number of individual stories of those who have had their lives changed by Big Noise. Some participants in Big Noise have gone on to attend the Conservatoire when they otherwise would not have the opportunity to play these instruments, as well as this, many previous participants have talked about how it was a respite for them where they could talk about their feelings and difficulties. Finally, participants from Big Noise have talked about how they were very shy before joining the project and it provided them with self-confidence and a sense of individuality which is not impacted by personal circumstances. Some of these individual stories can be found here:
https://makeabignoise.org.uk/our-impact/young-peoples-stories
The project has supported the development of a number of children in lower socio-economic areas and improved their concentration, social skills and provided them with a safe space to find respite from any worries that they may experience at home. As well as this, the project provides kids with employable skills such as dedication to playing an instrument as well as concentration and teamwork through playing as part of a large orchestra.

Key take-aways

• The impact of place-based, long-term community work.
• Music as a tool for social change.
• Working with hope and aspiration for the communities that we work alongside.
• Impact of youth voice and community development.

 

Organisations

Sistema Scotland

Location

Raploch (Stirling), Govanhill (Glasgow), Torry (Aberdeen), Douglas (Dundee), Fallin (Stirling) and Wester Hailes (Edinburgh).

Contact