The Scottish government has awarded £1.325m to Sistema Scotland, the social and music education programme inspired by Venezuela's El Sistema. The money will be used to establish a children’s orchestra in Govanhill, one of Glasgow’s most deprived areas, following the success of the programme’s first project in Raploch, Stirling.

The four-year funding package was announced by Scotland’s deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon and culture secretary Fiona Hyslop, during a visit to Holy Cross Primary School, one of four schools in Govanhill that will form part of the new 'Big Noise' orchestra.

‘Though we still have some money to raise privately, today's announcement means it is all systems go for Big Noise Govanhill and we’ll be working with children there come spring,’ said Sistema Scotland chairman Richard Holloway, adding that the funding would also help to continue the progamme’s work in Raploch. It is hoped that the scheme will involve up to 800 children by 2017.

The four-year funding package follows an independent review of the Big Noise orchestra in Raploch. A survey of parents and carers conducted as part of the research found that 100 per cent thought their children were more confident, 93 per cent thought their children were happier, 79 per cent thought they were more willing to concentrate, and 43 per cent thought they behaved better as a result of Big Noise.

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