Hundreds of young people across Scotland have benefitted from a record £3.5 million investment from the Essentia Foundation across 2025.
This total includes their largest funding commitment to date, with £2 million recently awarded to eight leading charities across the country. Funding will support these organisations to deliver programmes tackling youth unemployment, poverty, poor mental health and barriers to education. Each of the eight charities has received £250,000, enabling ambitious projects that are helping young people build resilience, develop new skills, and take steps towards brighter futures.
In Aberdeenshire, Sistema Scotland’s Big Noise Torry programme has received £250,000 to help their transformational project continue offering free, high-quality music tuition and life-changing opportunities to hundreds of children and young people in the Torry community.
This major investment comes at a critical time. Young people have been disproportionately affected by recent crises, from the long-term effects of the pandemic to the pressures of the continuing cost of living crisis. Many continue to face the lasting consequences of disrupted education and social development, alongside limited opportunities in training and employment. Combined with ongoing mental health challenges and persistent inequality, these barriers mean that support for Scotland’s young people is more urgently needed than ever.
Lorna Carruthers, Head of Centre at Big Noise Torry, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this generous support from the Essentia Foundation. Over the past ten years, Big Noise Torry has become a vibrant part of our community, giving hundreds of children and young people the chance to discover the joy of music, build confidence, and develop vital life skills. This grant will help us to sustain and grow the programme, ensuring that young people in Torry can continue to experience the creativity and opportunity that Big Noise offers.”
Brian Davidson, Trustee and Chairperson of the Essentia Foundation, said:
“Scotland’s young people are facing some of the toughest challenges in generations, and the need for support has never been greater. These eight charities are already making a real difference in communities across the country. This funding will help create opportunities, build resilience, and give young people the skills and confidence to thrive. The impact of these projects will last well beyond the life of the programmes themselves, and we hope it also sparks further support from others who want to see Scotland’s young people flourish.”
Other grant recipients of £250,000 each from the Essentia Foundation include:
Aberlour Childcare Trust
Bethany Christian Trust
Children First
Cyrenians
The Outward Bound Trust
The King’s Trust
The Venture Trust
These awards, alongside the additional £1.5 million that has been distributed this year by the Essentia Foundation, underpin its commitment to support young people across Scotland through initiatives focused on wellbeing, education, skills development, and opportunities for employment.
The awards also mark a milestone moment for the Essentia Foundation itself. The Foundation has confirmed it will now wind up its activities, leaving a £1.5 million legacy fund to be administered by long term partner Foundation Scotland, who have been supporting the Essentia Foundation since 2017.
Helen Wray, Head of Philanthropy & Quality, Foundation Scotland said:
“We are honoured to continue Essentia Foundation’s legacy through the new fund. For the last eight years, our team has had the privilege of working alongside Essentia to ensure its resources reach young people who need them most. This next chapter will see us build on that partnership by supporting grassroots organisations across Scotland. We look forward to helping smaller charities deliver vital opportunities that improve wellbeing, education and future prospects for children and young people, ensuring Essentia’s legacy and impact endures for years to come.”
This future programme will provide small grants to grassroots charities, ensuring Essentia’s mission of supporting children and young people continues well into the future.
For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/FoundationScotlandEssentia
