Membership Spotlight highlights the work of our member organisations and outline how other individuals and NGOs can support them. On the lead up to #HumanRightsDay we are shining the light on one of our newest members which is Sistema Scotland. Find out more information about them and their response to our #RightsOnTrack campaign question!

Sistema Scotland is thrilled to announce our new membership with Together, (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights). This partnership reflects our organisation’s ongoing commitment to championing the rights and voices of children and young people in our Big Noise communities across Scotland. At Sistema Scotland, our mission has always been to empower and uplift the children, young people, and communities that we work with, and our new membership with Together shows our commitment to this mission.

For over a decade, Sistema Scotland has been at the forefront of a transformative movement, leveraging the power of music and community engagement to inspire and empower children and young people. As we celebrate our collaboration with Together, we want to shed light on our unwavering dedication to amplifying the voices of our children and young people, and the importance of integrating Children’s Rights into our core mission.

Sistema Scotland’s primary focus has always been on providing opportunities and platforms for children and young people to express themselves, be heard, and actively participate in shaping the communities in which they live and their own futures. Through our transformational orchestral music programmes, Big Noise, music is a medium through which children can find their voices and build self-confidence.

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. 

At Big Noise, we try to break down barriers to creative expression, fostering an environment in which young people are encouraged to share their thoughts, experiences, and dreams. Independent research has also found that taking part in our Big Noise programmes helps our participants build self-esteem, develop strong friendships and support networks, and improve their social and life skills. Through this work, our pioneering Big Noise programmes, located in six communities across Scotland, have empowered thousands of children to harness the power of music.

As members of Together, we will strengthen our commitment to these communities, ensuring that the voices of young participants are not just acknowledged but celebrated. Together’s advocacy for children’s rights aligns with our mission, allowing us to leverage our expertise in music education and community building to bolster the rights of Scotland’s youth.

Aside from music, we are also dedicated to helping the children and young people that attend Big Noise to develop their own voices and make their opinions heard on everything from the way that their Big Noise lessons work to the issues of the day. We help equip our children and young people with the skills to make the change that they want to see through our Young Leaders and Youth Voice programmes, which help improve their confidence and give them the opportunity to make their views heard. Sistema Scotland’s dedication to amplifying the voices of our participants is also shown in our new partnership with the Scottish Youth Parliament – which will further provide a platform for our children and young people to make their views known on a national stage.

One of the key elements of children’s rights is the right to engage in play, rest, leisure, and cultural and artistic activities. This right is integral to our work and aligns perfectly with Sistema Scotland’s mission. We firmly believe in the transformative power of music and its capacity to enrich the lives of children. Through music education and participation in music lessons and the symphony orchestra, we provide children with a space to play, create, and express themselves, ultimately contributing to their overall well-being.

At Big Noise, we are committed to fostering the holistic development of children. We ensure that they have the time, resources, and opportunities to explore music, discover their creative potential, and, most importantly, have fun. This aligns with the core message that children have the right to engage in cultural and artistic activities for their enjoyment and development.

In addition to these fundamental rights, Sistema Scotland actively works to create safe and nurturing environments for children, providing the security and support they need to thrive. Our membership in Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights), strengthens our resolve to promote and protect all the rights enshrined in children’s rights conventions such as the UNCRC.

Sistema Scotland’s membership in Together reflects our steadfast commitment to amplifying the voices of children and young people in the communities we serve. By embedding the principles of children’s rights in our programmes, we aim to provide children with a platform for self-expression, creativity, and personal development. Together with our new partners, we look forward to advocating for these rights, creating safe and nurturing environments, and fostering a brighter future for Scotland’s youth. This is a significant step towards a more inclusive and just society for our children and we are excited to be a part of it.

#RightsOnTrack Campaign

Together’s #RightsOnTrack campaign is all about making sure that ALL children in Scotland have ALL of their rights ALL of the time. It’s about working with our members to hold Scottish Government and others to account.

What priority issue would you like to see emphasised as part of the campaign?

Paul Sullivan, Sistema Scotland’s Director for Children, Young People, and Communities and one of Together’s Trustee’s, responded:

“At Big Noise we have been talking a lot about our right to education. Both the importance of accessing creativity as part of our education, but also improvements that could be made to the school day, school meals and the overall school experience.”

Get Involved with Together

Sign-Up and Become a Member (Individual, Supporter or Organisations)

Would you like to find out further information about joining Together’s Membership?  Find out further information by opening this hyperlink.

Are you a Together organisational member and would like to collaborate for a Membership Spotlight? Email: caitlin@togetherscotland.org.uk

Find Our Further Information About Getting Involved with our #RightsOnTrack Campaign!

On #WorldChildrensDay we officially launched our new #RightsOnTrack campagin, click here to find out further information about it. Join us and sign-up to our new mailing list, click here to access registration form.