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SISTEMA SCOTLAND APPOINTS HEAD OF CENTRE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER AT BIG NOISE WESTER HAILES

Momentum is building towards the official start of Sistema Scotland’s new Big Noise programme in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh this spring. Sistema Scotland is excited to introduce the Head of Centre and Operations Manager for the new Big Noise Wester Hailes. The charity is delighted to have two passionate, experienced and skilled individuals heading up the new team.

Big Noise Wester Hailes will be the first Big Noise centre in Scotland’s capital city. Sistema Scotland has been working closely with the people of Wester Hailes every step of the way towards launching the new Big Noise centre. Community members have been part of the recruitment panel for these first two significant posts. Stewart Wilson, previously Senior Musician at Big Noise Raploch, has been appointed Head of Centre for Big Noise Wester Hailes and Kirsty Robertson, formerly with Imaginate, is joining the team as Operations Manager.

Sistema Scotland is working in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and with Clovenstone, Canal View and Sighthill Primary and Nursery Schools to deliver Big Noise Wester Hailes. Significant support has been committed from Baillie Gifford, Parabola Foundation and players of People’s Postcode Lottery among others. Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise programmes work to improve lives, strengthen communities and help children and young people realise their potential.

Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme, where the symphony orchestra becomes a community which supports children and young people to gain vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity and aspiration. Through music and nurturing relationships, from infancy to adulthood, Big Noise supports participants’ wellbeing and helps them reach their full potential. The programme also aims to strengthen the amazing communities where it is based; developing relationships with participants and their families based on mutual respect, trust and a commitment to work together and tackle inequalities for the long term.

Stewart has been involved with Big Noise since 2013, working closely with children, young people and families in Stirling through his role as Senior Musician at Big Noise Raploch. Kirsty has worked as Music Development Coordinator at Aberdeen Performing Arts where she was responsible for developing, managing and delivering a programme of music-making for ages 1-18, as well as running a large community choir. More recently she worked as Schools Project Manager at Imaginate, Scotland’s national organisation that promotes, develops and celebrates theatre and dance for children and young people.

Big Noise Wester Hailes Head of Centre Stewart Wilson, said:

“I’m delighted to be leading Sistema Scotland’s newest Big Noise centre here in Wester Hailes and I’m really looking forward to working closely with the community and all our partners. By springtime our team of musicians will be in the local primary schools and supporting children to learn and make music together. It’s a wonderful time to start a brand new Big Noise programme.”

Big Noise Wester Hailes will work initially with all children in Primary 1 and 2. Over the course of its first year, the programme will expand to reach all nursery to Primary 3 age children, approximately 400 participants in total across the community. It will grow year on year, retaining the involvement of the children as they age, and introducing the next generations of nursery and Primary 1 children. Big Noise Wester Hailes will ultimately work with babies through to school-leavers in Wester Hailes, as well as offering opportunities to stay involved in the programme as adults.

Big Noise Wester Hailes Operations Manager Kirsty Robertson, said:

“I’m thrilled to join the Big Noise Wester Hailes team and Sistema Scotland. It will be great to see Big Noise grow and flourish in this amazing community and to work with the children and their families. I am excited to join the organisation at this exciting time and help launch this new Big Noise programme which will have so many wide-reaching benefits for those involved.”

Independent evaluation of the Big Noise model by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health has shown that taking part in Big Noise helps children to improve their concentration and language skills, enhance their problem solving and decision making, increase their self-esteem and develop strong friendships and support networks.

Councillor Ian Perry, Education Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council, said:

“I am delighted that Big Noise will soon be starting in Wester Hailes and am looking forward to seeing the positive impacts of the programme benefit children and families in the community. This will be a great opportunity for our youngest community members and I hope to see them perform together in the future.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said:

“We have worked in partnership with Sistema Scotland for over nine years and are delighted to see the first Big Noise centre open in Edinburgh. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we can help Sistema Scotland share the benefits of Big Noise to the children, young people and families of Wester Hailes.”

To find out more about Big Noise Wester Hailes, please visit: https://www.makeabignoise.org.uk/big-noise/wester-hailes/

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