Scottish Secretary gets to know The Big Noise

Edinburgh Reporter

16-06-2025

The Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Ian Murray, went back to Wester Hailes to visit The Big Noise, the pioneering music and social change programme.
Mr Murray grew up in Wester Hailes, and he visited the social change programme based on orchestral music to see – and hear – first-hand how its work is tackling inequality and helping children, young people and families in the area.
During his visit to the project at Canal View Primary School, Mr Murray was told more about the programme, which provides music tuition, instruments and nurturing support to primary school pupils to help them fulfil their potential and reach their goals.
He watched music lessons, met young people on the programme and enjoyed a performance from the pupils.
He was shown around by the charity's chief executive Vicky Williams and the chair, Benny Higgins.
Big Noise is a high-quality music education and social change programme, which launched in Raploch in 2008. Children and young people learn music after school, creating a community symphony orchestra which supports them in gaining vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration.
The charity works intensively with children, young people and families in targeted communities, using the symphony orchestra as a community to help children gain life skills and experiences. There are now six centres supporting almost 4,000 children and young people across Scotland, including Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Govanhill in Glasgow, Douglas in Dundee, Torry in Aberdeen, and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh, which is its newest centre and opened in 2022.
Big Noise Wester Hailes now reaches more than 550 children a week, working in partnership with Clovenstone, Canal View and Sighthill primary schools.
It 'supports young people to reach their full potential by helping them develop vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration, while also strengthening community ties through music and nurturing relationships'..
Mr Murray said: 'Returning to Wester Hailes, where I grew up, and seeing first-hand how Sistema Scotland's Big Noise programme is transforming young lives was genuinely moving. This innovative programme doesn't just teach music – it builds confidence, resilience and aspiration in children who deserve every opportunity to succeed. Tackling inequality and poverty is a key part of the UK Government's Plan for Change.
'The progress made since Big Noise launched in this area is remarkable, now reaching over 550 children each week. As someone who knows this community well, I'm particularly proud to see such positive investment in these young people's futures, equipping them with vital life skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.'
Vicky Williams, Chief Executive of Sistema Scotland, said: 'It was fantastic to welcome Ian Murray to Wester Hailes to share more how our work tackles poverty and inequality, builds confidence and resilience in young people and helps them both inside and outside the classroom.
'Our 'more than music' approach is really bearing fruit in our older programmes, where we are now seeing people who joined us as primary school pupils move into work, study and really positive lives.
'It is clear that Big Noise, through nurturing and supportive relationships, helps children and young people reach their full potential by equipping them with vital life skills and enhancing their academic skills.
'We also know that taking part in Big Noise increases confidence and self-esteem, as well as participants' creativity, aspiration and sense of belonging.'
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