SBBA receives full £70,000 YMI grant from Creative Scotland

The Scottish Brass Band Association is delighted to announce that it has received a maximum grant of £70,000 from Creative Scotland to continue its work with youth development projects during 2024-25.

“This is vital funding which will enable us to focus on new band start-ups and development, our National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS) courses and educational projects, learning festival and training delivery opportunities, further education outreach, and information and communication technology initiatives,” said SBBA president Carrie Boax.

The SBBA grant, which has been made under the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI), is part of over £1.5m of funding to 52 creative community projects engaging young people with music-making activities and opportunities across all of Scotland.

Designed to address inequality, the funded activity will enable children and young people to access high-quality music making opportunities ranging from long-standing initiatives to brand new projects.

Morag Macdonald, YMI manager at Creative Scotland, said: “The impact the YMI has on children and young people’s lives cannot be understated. Not only is it providing high quality music opportunities focused on those who wouldn’t normally have the chance to participate, but the community spaces created develop social connection, technical skills, confidence and the ability to express themselves in new ways.”