“Children in one of the most deprived communities in Scotland face missing out on a pioneering music scheme after the council proposed to cut its funding by almost half,” writes Phil Miller in Tuesday’s (1/23) Herald (Scotland). “The Big Noise orchestra in Raploch, Stirling, … is now facing ‘devastating’ cuts to its funding … which organizers fear will force them to reduce the number of children taking part and impact on the quality of the program … In its draft budget, Stirling Council is proposing to reduce its funding by almost half … from £500,000 a year to £275,000 over five years. Sistema Scotland, the charity which runs Big Noise, said it was a ‘cut too far’ … A spokeswoman said: ‘While Sistema Scotland recognize that the public sector is under financial pressure, this … could have a devastating effect on the children who participate in Big Noise’ … Big Noise works with around 2,500 children across Scotland after the Raploch orchestra paved the way for projects in Govanhill in Glasgow, Torry in Aberdeen and Douglas in Dundee. The funding cut is out for consultation and the local authority’s budget will be voted on by councilors on February 22.”
Posted January 26, 2018
