Tag: Fischy Music

National Lottery funding brings Commonwealth Games spirit to communities in Edinburgh

LOTTERY BOOST FOR BIG HEARTS

People in Edinburgh are going All In for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, as local groups prepare to host National Lottery-funded arts, sport and community activities, inspired by the Games.

With just three weeks till the Games begin, four projects in Edinburgh have received over £26,000 (£26,919) of National Lottery Awards for All funding, including Big Hearts Community Trust, Edinburgh Giants Inclusive Sports Club, Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival and Fischy.

This will help bring people together, encourage participation and help local communities by creating inclusive, locally led activities and events that build excitement, pride and connection ahead of an unforgettable summer of sport.  

The awards are part of an additional £2.2 million investment through National Lottery Awards for All Scotland, delivered jointly by The National Lottery Community Fund, sportscotland and Creative Scotland.

The announcement is part of the wider All In campaign, Glasgow 2026’s Scotland‑wide movement inviting communities, schools, sports clubs, cultural and voluntary organisations and businesses to celebrate the Games in their own altogether brilliant way. 

Big Hearts Community Trust will use its funding to expand its Together Equality Achieves More (T.E.A.M) project, providing access to free activities for children and young people, aged between eight and 12 years old from multicultural communities across Southwest Edinburgh.

Amanda Farquhar, Head of Delivery at Big Hearts said: “The Big Hearts’ TEAM project is about building a community that celebrates our young people in all their diversity and helps them thrive emotionally and physically through sport.

“We are grateful to National Lottery players whose support has enabled our charity to bring the spirit of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to south-west Edinburgh. We look forward to hosting more opportunities for young people to get active and build friendships outside of school.””

Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival will deliver a five-month community Carnival Arts programme and a street parade to coincide with the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Explaining how the funding will be used, Giles Agis, Carnival and Community Manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this National Lottery Awards for All Scotland funding.

“This support will help Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival bring communities together through carnival arts, music, dance, and cultural celebration, marking the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in a way that is inclusive, creative, and rooted in Scotland’s diverse communities. We are very grateful to National Lottery players for making this possible.”

Other projects to receive funding, include Edinburgh Giants Inclusive Sports Club, will help train and certify 12 people in wheelchair rugby league coaching and first aid so they can then develop, run and evaluate a 9-month wheelchair rugby league programme for around 100 disabled children and young people living in Edinburgh.

Fishcy received support to deliver a free, celebratory Commonwealth Games 2026 online music and movement event to engage primary schools and Additional Support Needs schools across Scotland.

The funding is helping remove barriers to participation, enabling more people to take part in sport, arts and community activities while supporting health, wellbeing and social connection. Projects will also celebrate Scotland’s cultural diversity and ensure communities across the country can feel part of Glasgow 2026.

Announcing the first 40 grants totalling £317,456, on behalf of National Lottery Awards for All Scotland distributors, Neil Ritch, The National Lottery Community Fund Director for Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to support Big Hearts Community Trust, Edinburgh International Jazz & Blues Festival and Edinburgh Giants Inclusive Sports Club and Fischy to bring the spirit of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to their community through The National Lottery Awards for All Scotland. 

“It’s really exciting to see so many communities go All in and get inspired to deliver sports, arts and cultural activity.  Thanks to National Lottery players, we’re helping make sure the benefit of the Games is felt in communities right across Scotland.”   

Chris Ansell, Glasgow 2026 Director of Live Programmes and Engagement, said “From Shetland to the Borders, we want every community in Scotland to feel part of Glasgow 2026.

“The response from communities across the country has been brilliant with the nation really embracing the spirit of the Games and channelling it into sport, arts and cultural activity. Thanks to support from the National Lottery, we are gathering communities together to celebrate the Games in their own way.  

“These projects are proof that the impact of the Games reaches far beyond our incredible venues, sparking something real and lasting in communities. We couldn’t be more proud to see that happening right across Scotland.”

National Lottery Awards for All Scotland has awarded grants of up to £10,000 to help groups deliver activities that resonate with local communities. Funding remains available for projects taking place after the Games, helping extend the legacy of Glasgow 2026 long after the closing ceremony.

Community groups interested in applying can find out more about National Lottery Awards for All Scotland on The National Lottery Community Fund website.

First Minister congratulates recipients of New Year Honours 2024

YOU ARE A STAR! – AWARD FOR FISCHY MUSIC’S STEPHEN

First Minister Humza Yousaf has paid tribute to Scotland’s recipients of the New Year’s Honours.

In recognition of exceptional contributions to public life and in keeping with the theme of ‘giving’, this year’s awards celebrate recipients that have contributed to their community and undertaken voluntary services.

Writer and academic Alexander McCall Smith receives a Knighthood for services to literature.

Among those receiving the CBE are Professor Peter Hollingsworth, the Director of Science and Deputy Keeper of Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden, recognising his services to science, and Gayle Gorman, the former Chief Executive of Education Scotland for services to education and charity.

Former football player and manager Alex McLeish receives an OBE for services to charity, including his work with the Catherine McEwan Foundation which supports people with colitis and Crohn’s.

Other recipients of the OBE include former British Lions player and Scotland rugby captain Rob Wainwright, founder of Doddie Aid, a mass participation fitness event to raise funds to aid research into Motor Neuron Disease, which former teammate Doddie Weir fought. OBEs have also been awarded to Catherine Magee, CEO of Dyslexia Scotland, and Alex Reedijk, General Director at Scottish Opera.

There’s an MBE for Fischy Music founder Stephen Fischbacher for services to mental health and wellbeing. Edinburgh’s popular Fischy Music have been celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.

MBEs go to Elinor Middlemiss, Chef de Mission for Scotland’s 2026 Commonwealth Games squad for services to sport, Chief Commissioner Susan Walker of Girlguiding Scotland for services to young people, and Robert Christie, head coach of the Scotland Paralympic Lawn Bowls Team.

Fundraiser Keith Morton receives the British Empire Medal for his charitable work with Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). The same honour goes to volunteer Elizabeth Kinnear for her work with the Guide Dogs Perth and District Branch.

Chief Superintendent Carol McGuire, Chief Superintendent Faroque Hussain and Police Constable Stephanie Rose receive The King’s Police Medal. The King’s Fire Service Medal is awarded to Acting Director of Asset Management Iain Morris and Watch Commander David Gibson. The King’s Ambulance Service Medal is awarded to Ambulance Care Assistant Alistair MacDonald.

The First Minister said: “Those recognised in the New Year’s Honours list have made exceptional contributions to communities across Scotland and beyond. These Honours are particularly important in light of the ‘giving’ theme and it is clear that all of the worthy recipients have given so much.

“The service and dedication of these individuals – from the arts, education and sport to business, charity, community cohesion and science – has benefited people across communities and promoted Scotland around the world.

“I congratulate those members of Scotland’s blue-light services who have been awarded The King’s Fire, Police or Ambulance Service Medals. Our emergency services display incredible fortitude daily and deserve our continued appreciation for keeping people and communities across Scotland safe, every day of the year.” 

The Scottish Secretary has also congratulated the many people from across Scottish society who have been recognised in the New Year Honours List.

Speaking as King Charles’ New Year Honours were announced, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “My warmest congratulations go to all the Scottish recipients of the King’s New Year Honours. Scots are well represented in His Majesty’s list, which showcases the best of Scottish talent – including sport, the arts, community, education, business, charity, policing and healthcare.

“Scottish rugby centurion Stuart Hogg, who announced his retirement earlier this year, is rightly celebrated [MBE] for his services to the game. Former Scotland rugby captain Rob Wainwright is also honoured [OBE] for his extraordinary work raising money for research into motor neurone disease through the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. From the world of football, former player and Scotland, Rangers, Hibs and Motherwell manager Alex McLeish is recognised [OBE] for his services to charity.

“I welcome best-selling author Alexander McCall Smith being knighted for services to literature, academia and to charity. And much loved star of BBC comedy Two Doors Down, Arabella Weir, has been rightly recognised [MBE] for her work with the arts and young people, not least through the Kirkcaldy Festival of Ideas.

“And it’s poignant that just days after the 35th anniversary of the Lockerbie atrocity a leading police officer in the investigation, Stuart Cossar, is recognised [MBE] for his services to the inquiry and bereaved families.

“This year, more than 100 Scots have been awarded honours. The achievements of such a diverse number of our fellow Scots is truly inspiring.”

The Honours list.

Honours are announced twice annually on the Monarch’s official birthday, and at New Year.

Music to our ears: Children’s Lottery success for Fischy Music

Popular community project Fischy Music has been awarded a £11,696 grant from the Scottish Children’s Lottery. The lottery grant will be used to deliver music sessions in North Edinburgh, so it was fitting that the cheque was presented at Pirniehall Primary School. Continue reading Music to our ears: Children’s Lottery success for Fischy Music

Something Fischy’s going on at North Edinburgh Arts!

Two things that help people of any age get through the ups and downs of life are friendship and music.

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A pioneering two-year project, led by acclaimed Edinburgh charities Fischy Music and The Sunflower Garden, to build friendship groups and promote musical creativity for Edinburgh children with family issues, will culminate in a celebration concert at North Edinburgh Arts Centre on Friday (4 September) at 6.30pm.

Weekly after-school projects for four groups of 8-12 year olds have been run since October 2013. These groups have focused on song-writing, discussion and music games as a way of building confidence, making friends and expressing deep emotions about life circumstances that the children may struggle with.

These four moving, quirky and original songs have been recorded onto a special CD, and will be showcased by a professional live band along with selected favourites from Fischy Music – in front of an audience composed of the song-writing children, their families, staff from the two organisations and other invited guests.

“Excited when there’s presents, or going on holiday

Confused when I don’t understand the things that people say

Scared when it gets dark, or going somewhere new

In my house, there are feelings, lots of feelings

Lots of feelings all the time, is that the same for you?

(extract from ‘My House’ composed by project group 2, May 2014)

sunflower