Overview

As CEO of musicALL, I led the organisation through a period of significant growth, strengthening its structure, securing long-term funding and expanding its reach across Scotland.

The situation

musicALL was a values-led organisation delivering high-quality work with young people with additional support needs, but it was operating on a small scale and relied heavily on short-term funding.

I took over leadership in July 2021, as Scotland emerged from Covid-19 restrictions. There was an opportunity — and a need — to stabilise the organisation, strengthen governance, and create more consistent opportunities for young people across different areas.

What I did

I led a programme of strategic development and organisational growth.

This included:

• Designing a clear service model — introducing a pathways approach that supported progression for young people
• Expanding delivery geographically — growing programmes across multiple local authority areas
• Building stronger partnerships — working closely with schools, local authorities and national organisations
• Strengthening governance — transitioning the board from founding members to a skills-based group of new trustees
• Embedding lived experience in decision-making — creating a youth-led panel feeding directly into board discussions
• Securing long-term funding — developing a funding strategy and achieving multi-year investment from national funders
• Growing the organisation’s profile and influence — building relationships across the wider music and cultural sector

Alongside this, I developed the team and introduced a more resilient operating model — including a planned leadership transition, mentoring the Programme Director to step into the CEO role.

The outcome

musicALL is now a recognised national provider of inclusive creative education, working across multiple local authority areas.

• The organisation has stronger governance and leadership in place
• Income has shifted from short-term funding to a more stable, multi-year funding base
• Partnerships have expanded across education, local government and the cultural sector
• A clear service model supports consistent, high-quality delivery

Funding is now secured through a diverse portfolio including Creative Scotland, Cashback for Communities, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, and Glasgow City Council (now entering Phase 3, 2026–29).

Most importantly, more young people with additional support needs now have access to consistent, high-quality opportunities to take part in music and creative activity.

For more information see 👉 musicALL →