Here at Sistema Scotland, we're committed to improving lives and strengthening communities through music and nurturing relationships!

Our charity targets and works with some of Scotland's most challenged communities through our Big Noise programme. We started with Big Noise Raploch (Stirling) in April 2008, with six musicians supporting 35 young schoolchildren. We now run six Big Noise programmes and work with over 3,500 children and young people across Scotland.

We could not do this without the vital help of our supporters and volunteers! Find out how you can support us through donating to our work or volunteering at one of our Big Noise centres.

The Big Noise Programme

The Big Noise programme is particularly focused on early years' intervention and long-term delivery. Each new Big Noise centre begins by working with children at nursery (weekly) and in Primary 1 and 2 (twice weekly), gradually building on core skills such as listening, concentration, rhythm, rhyme and teamwork whilst learning to play an instrument in a group.

As children reach Primary 3 and beyond, Big Noise evolves into an intensive and immersive programme of after-school and holiday club music teaching, performance and social interaction. Our Big Noise children receive up to four after-school sessions of intervention and support a week during term time; and up to four days each week during spring, summer and autumn holidays until they leave school.

However, leaving school does not have to mean leaving Big Noise! Find out more about how we're supporting our older teenage participants at Big Noise Raploch.

Big Noise centres also provide weekly sessions for babies and toddlers (and their parents). There is support and opportunity for adult community members to participate in singing and orchestral performance, as well as a range of meaningful volunteering options for adults within Big Noise, which are vital to the successful delivery of the programme.

Independent Evaluation

The Glasgow Centre for Population Health (GCPH) has undertaken independent evaluation of the impact of the Big Noise programme since 2013. It has consistently observed positive impacts on Big Noise participants across the different centres, noting that participants have increased their confidence, discipline, academic skills, happiness, sense of belonging and fulfilment.

Our Six Big Noise Programmes

We currently have six Big Noise communities:

• Big Noise Raploch, Stirling, was established in 2008.
• Big Noise Govanhill, Glasgow, was established in 2013.
• Big Noise Torry, Aberdeen, was established in 2015.
• Big Noise Douglas, Dundee, was established in 2017.
• Big Noise Fallin, Stirling, was established in 2021.
• Big Noise Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, was established in 2022.