Special £50,000 fund launched in memory of Manchester Arena attack victim Eilidh MacLeod

A £50,000 funding scheme has been set up to support young musicians in Scotland to commemorate five years since a Scottish teenager died in the Manchester Arena terror attack.

Eilidh MacLeod, from Barra, was one of 22 people killed in the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in the city in May 2017.

Her family have since set up The Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust in memory of the 14-year-old, who was a talented musician and played the bagpipes with the local Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band.

The trust supports music education for young people, which reflects Eilidh’s own love of music, as well as managing and maintaining a permanent memorial to Eilidh and a garden of remembrance and reflection on Barra.

To mark five years since Eilidh’s death, the trust has opened its largest ever small grants scheme to support young musicians of all genres and disciplines.

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.

Youth music groups across Scotland are being invited to bid for financial support to help them grow and develop their music tuition capacity and ensure lessons continue to be available to all.

To date, the trust has funded over 30 youth music groups and individuals from Orkney to the Borders, supporting budding artists to grow their skills, thrive in a fun learning environment and, in many instances, allowing them to restart their lessons as we emerge from the pandemic.

Trust founder Suzanne White said: “Eilidh’s life was all about positivity, fun and friendship and that is exactly how we want her to be remembered when we mark five years since we lost her.

“By creating this special funding round we want to support as many music groups as possible so they can deliver tuition based on Eilidh’s attitude to life where young musicians flourish in their abilities and confidence.

“We are proud of what we have achieved so far in Eilidh’s memory, supporting numerous young people in their music, but we know that more can be done. 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.

“We want to hear from as many youth music groups as possible who feel that Eilidh’s Trust can help them.”