Big Noise Douglas, run by the charity Sistema Scotland, is under threat.
More than 700 people have signed a petition urging councillors to guarantee funding for a community education programme in one of Dundee’s most disadvantaged areas.
Big Noise Douglas, run by the charity Sistema Scotland, helps young people reach their full potential through music and a wider support programme.
However, there are fears the programme – which is delivered free to children and families – could face a funding shortfall from Dundee City Council this year amid pressures on local authority finances.
Members of the community in Douglas have written to councillors calling for them to secure the programme’s future by continuing to invest in it.
And an online petition, started by mum Lynne Rihoy this week, now has the backing of over 700 people.
Lynne’s daughter Paige, 11, has been attending Big Noise Douglas since it launched in the community five years ago, resulting in a vast improvement in her confidence.
The mum-of-three said she was aware her change.org petition would attract widespread support due to the strength of feeling in the community, but she was amazed to see hundreds of people signing it within the first 24 hours of it being created.
Lynne said: “Any reduction in the service that Big Noise offers due to a cut in funding would affect many families.
“A lot of people use the programme after school and during school holidays as something for their children to do and to keep costs down.
“During the holidays it gives the children and young people something to do without parents having that added pressure and expense of trying to find them something to do every day.
“That alone makes a huge difference and in this current financial climate especially it is important.”
She added: “Not everybody in this local area would have the opportunity to learn music in this way. It’s a great experience for the young people here who can take part.
“Big Noise has made a massive difference to my daughter’s confidence.
“It’s not just music either – they have people visiting and put on different afternoons like watching a movie or getting some pizzas, and it’s all just something for the children to do.
“Paige goes more for the social aspect – the fun and the friendships. She gets so much more out of it than just learning to play music.”
Sistema Scotland set up Big Noise Douglas at the end of 2017, bringing a social change programme that works in priority areas around Scotland to the city.
Through the programme, children in nursery and primary school are offered the chance to learn to read and perform music while picking up vital life experience, with the opportunity to stay with the Big Noise as they get older to ensure they fulfil their potential.
The charity now works with more than 500 children a week in Douglas and provides after-school care and sessions during school holidays – removing some of the barriers parents face when seeking work or training.
When the programme launched, Dundee City Council signed a partnership agreement promising to provide the majority of the programme’s funding from 2021/22 onwards. The expected council contribution was £660,000 for 2023/24.
However, in recognition of the challenging financial circumstances facing the council, Sistema Scotland has submitted a reduced request for £300,000 for the year ahead, which would enable it to support existing users, including deaf children and care experienced children and young people, as well as protect 21 jobs and provide healthy meals and after-school care in the community during the cost-of-living crisis.
