Partnership with National Piping Centre removes financial barriers
A new music access fund for young musicians has been created by the National Piping Centre in Glasgow with funding made available by the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust
The Eilidh MacLeod Access Fund will provide support to young pipers and drummers by removing the financial barriers to learning and encourage the aspiring musicians to progress with their learning journey. Eilidh’s Trust, which has made the funding available, is the music education charity established in memory of the 14-year-old piper from the Isle of Barra who died in the Manchester Arena attack in May 2017.
The £2000-per-year access fund will be administered by the National Piping Centre and is open to applications from new and existing participants, aged under 25, across selected National Piping Centre programmes.
Funding will be available across a range National Piping Centre Youth & Communities programmes and will be used to provide subsidised or free places and financial support towards travel and accommodation.
Eilidh’s Trust has made the funding available as part of its mission to support youth music education across Scotland, to reflect Eilidh’s own love of music and ability as a musician with the local school pipe band. Eilidh was also a member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland which operates under the umbrella of the National Piping Centre.
The trust was established as a volunteer-run small grants charity in 2018 and has since distributed more than £100,000 to young musicians and music groups across Scotland, ranging from pipe bands and choirs to pianists and brass bands. This new partnership is in addition to the charity’s annual funding round.
Iagan MacNeil of Eilidh’s Trust said: “We are committed to making music learning as accessible as possible for all and we understand that financial barriers are often a reason for young people to either not embark on their journey or dropping out. By providing this new access fund via a partnership with the National Piping Centre we can realise that ambition.”
“Learning an instrument can be such an enriching experience that offers more than music. It creates and environment for young people to not only grow their musical abilities but also develop their social and team building skills, as well as creating lifelong friendships.”
Iagan added: “Thank you to the National Piping Centre team for this wonderful opportunity to support so many young people in music, ensuring their talents are developed and not lost due to financial worries.”
Callum Stamper, Commercial Director of The National Piping Centre added: “We are delighted to partner with the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust with whom we are steadfastly aligned in our shared vision for inspiring young musicians and breaking down barriers to access and participation. We look forward to welcoming the first recipients of the Eilidh MacLeod Access Fund onto our programmes in the coming weeks!”
Information on the Eilidh MacLeod Access Fund and how to apply is available via the National Piping Centre website: NPC Access Fund information