Eilidh’s legacy lives on
Young musicians across Scotland are to benefit from a £50,000 fund commemorating five years since Barra teenager Eilidh MacLeod died in the Manchester Arena attack.
The Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust has opened its largest small grants scheme to continue the 14-year-old piper’s musical journey and build her legacy through other talented young artists.
Youth music groups across Scotland are being invited to bid for help from the scheme created by charity trustees to remember Eilidh on the fifth anniversary of the arena attack. Trustees say the fund is especially timely as increased living costs have the potential of making it more difficult for many families to pay for music lesson fees and expenses. As well as supporting music education, the charity also looks after a permanent memorial to the Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band member and a garden of remembrance and reflection on her home island of Barra.
The special anniversary fund seeks to ensure young musicians across the country are supported in their tuition by providing funding across a range of areas such as teaching costs, equipment, travel costs and venue hire.
The new scheme was announced at the charity’s gala ball fundraiser in Glasgow. Jane McCarry, known for her portrayal of TV show Still Game’s nosey busybody Isa Drennan, and Mark Cox who plays tight-fisted Tam Mullen, oversaw proceedings at the Tartan and Tiaras event on Saturday April 30.
Trust founder Suzanne White said: ‘This fund will allow us to reach more music groups across Scotland, ensuring a greater number of young people have access to tuition and can continue to learn in a fun and positive environment, build life-long friendships and thrive in their talent.’
Welcoming the funding scheme, Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: ‘Eilidh’s Trust will play an empowering role in enabling more young people across Scotland to explore their potential and realise their ambitions through music. Helping to create these opportunities is such an inspiring legacy for Eilidh and is a reminder of and tribute to the special place that music had in her life.’
Arthur Cormack, of national community arts development body Fèisean nan Gàidheal, said: ‘In the nearly five years since Eilidh died, Eilidh’s Trust has provided meaningful support to a range of bodies. As an organisation which supports the teaching of traditional music across Scotland, Fèisean nan Gàidheal warmly welcomes the announcement a further £50,000 will be available through Urras Eilidh to support music education for young people.’
Applications should be sent to hello@eilidhstrust.org.uk including group details, how Eilidh’s Trust funding would benefit their young musicians and explaining how safeguarding and protection regulations are complied with.