Impact Arts is delighted to have received new funding to support our work with whole family wellbeing in our parent-and-child therapeutic art programme Art Wise and our work with young people in our creative employability programmes.

Art Wise Falkirk: Falkirk Council

A huge thank you to Falkirk Council for their 100% funding of Art Wise in Falkirk, totaling £25,600.

This continuation of funding will allow us to continue our evidence-based and innovative assets-based approach to whole family wellbeing, focussing on the needs of individuals as well as the other family members, meeting local priorities in and around Falkirk. The programme seeks to support the whole family through an arts-based learning approach to parenting children who have experienced trauma, poor mental health, social difficulties and/or behavioural difficulties.

In Art Wise, we focus on removing barriers to accessing services, and improving parents/carers mental health. With this funding, we will continue to deliver a combination of parent-only sessions, whole-family sessions, alongside one-to-one family support, with participants attending for up to 8 weeks at a time.

One of the blocks will be delivered from One Parent Families Scotland premises in Maddiston.

Impactful Starts Edinburgh: National Lottery Community Fund

We’d like to thank the National Lottery Community Fund for their generous contribution of £10,000 in youth employability funding towards Impactful Starts in Edinburgh.

NLCF funds community projects that help people connect, grow and build a better future. They focus on supporting people who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage, or discrimination. By 2030, they’ll share over £4 billion to create stronger, fairer communities across the UK.

Impactful Starts supports young people aged 16-24 years who are from deprived communities and at risk of long term unemployment. The programme helps improve their wellbeing and make a positive progression in life.

Community activities in this programme are tailored towards Edinburgh’s growth sectors of culture and tourism, for example previous projects created community murals, transformed community gardens, collaborated on creative projects in heritage spaces and created new signage/sculptures. This funding will enable us to support up to 30 young people to overcome individual barriers, connect with each other, build trusted relationships, identify progression opportunities, and set personal goals. We will support young people with disabilities, those who have poor mental health, those who are neurodivergent, or are new Scots.

Impactful Starts Glasgow: The Gosling Foundation & The Murgitroyd Foundation

A huge thank you also to The Gosling Foundation for their contribution of £5,000 and Impactful Starts in Glasgow.

This foundation funds units, establishments, and ships of the Royal Navy & Royal Marines as well as youth groups (e.g. Sea Cadets, Scouts, Girl Guides, performing arts).

In more good news for Impactful Starts in Glasgow, we’d like to thank The Murgitroyd Foundation for their contribution of £2,500 towards the project.

In the year January to December 2026, Impactful Starts will benefit around 72 young people aged 16-24 who are affected by poor life chances and at risk of anti-social behaviour. The project delivers 2 days a week in Edinburgh and 3 days a week in Glasgow, with one day at Kelvin College for Glasgow participants. During the course of the programme and with the support of a Wellbeing and Opportunities Worker, participants identify their barriers to progression, develop their core and soft skills, and co-create a personal activities plan which helps them to work towards achieving a positive destination.

We use creative engagement as a ‘hook’ from which to establish relationships of trust with young people. Once established, these relationships of trust provide an opportunity for young people to able to share their often-hidden feelings, vulnerabilities, goals and aspirations, enabling us to meet the expected outcomes and achieve transformational change.

The Wellbeing and Opportunities Workers provide employability support on a one-to-one basis, supporting young people to overcome individual barriers, identify progression opportunities, and set personal goals.

Our partner networks then provide opportunities for participants in further education, training and
volunteering, as well as options beyond education such as apprenticeships and self-employment, with many young people interested in the Creative Industries.

As always, a huge thank you to our funders, partners, and donors who make our work possible. Let’s continue to transform lives through creativity in Scotland.

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

Impact Arts is pleased to share that we have received several new grants to support our youth employability programmes. This recent flurry of funding means we can continue offering creative opportunities that help young people build confidence, learn new skills, and take steps toward their future. It’s a big boost for our team and the communities we work with – and we’re grateful to the funders who’ve made it possible.

Garfield Weston Foundation

A huge thank you to the Garfield Weston Foundation for their generous contribution of £20,000 per year for two years for Impactful Starts.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family-founded grant-making organisation that supports a broad spectrum of charities across the UK, donating approximately £100 million each year. These include organisations in the arts, welfare, youth, community development, education, environment, health, heritage, and more.

Impactful Starts – which will now benefit from Garfield Weston’s funding – is our free-to-attend creative employability programme for young people. This programme provides a safe, accessible space for 16-24 year olds to: get creative, make new friends, build confidence, gain qualifications, develop new skills, and get support to progress.

Young people get to explore activities such as painting, digital art, musicmaking, theatre, or creative writing while developing their employability skills. This programme is especially suitable for young people who have autism, ADHD, disabilities, anxiety or mental health conditions, or experience of being bullied.

Any funding given to Impactful Starts directly helps young people discover their passion, gain valuable skills, and plan next steps for their future.

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust

Thank you also to The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust for contributing £6,000 to be used between September 2025 and June 2026 for Impactful Starts in Glasgow. This funding will go towards a music project as part of our creative youth employability programme for young people from areas of multiple deprivation.

Dame Bridget D’Oyly Carte was the granddaughter of Richard D’Oyly Carte, the renowned theatrical impresario who founded the Savoy Theatre in 1881 and the Savoy Hotel in 1889.

In 1972, Dame Bridget created The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust to reflect her personal passions, particularly her love of theatre, music, gardening, and her commitment to supporting disadvantaged and disabled children. Today, the Trust honours her legacy through three core grant programmes: The Arts, Medical Welfare, and The Environment.

The Hugh Fraser Foundation

We’d also like to thank The Hugh Fraser Foundation for their contribution of £5,000 youth employability funding towards Impactful Starts in Glasgow.

The Hugh Fraser Foundation provides donations to registered charities working across a range of sectors, including arts and culture, health and medical care, environmental initiatives, education, and support for children, older people, individuals with disabilities, and those facing disadvantage.

Their funding policy prioritises projects and activities based in Scotland, with a particular focus on areas where economic challenges or local circumstances make charitable fundraising more difficult.

Give a young person a brighter future

In our 2024/25 Impactful Starts groups, 94% improved their employability skills and 71% progressed into further study, training, or work. Impactful Starts is changing lives and these recent successful grants are welcome good news. But sadly, there’s still a funding gap. To keep this transformative programme running, we need your help to bridge this gap and help more young people build brighter futures.

Donate before August 29 and be automatically entered into our prize draw to WIN one of three framed artworks!

Thank you!

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

Community arts charity Impact Arts is delighted to receive £99,808 of funding from The National Lottery Community Fund!

Through TNL’s Young Start Fund, we have been awarded this substantial funding for Impactful Starts, our creative youth employability programme.

About The National Lottery Community Fund

The National Lottery raises money for good causes and distributes funding that enables people across the country to do extraordinary things, transforming lives and improving communities. The projects granted funding are those that aim to transform communities, protect our heritage, and enrich lives through arts, sports, and culture.

The purpose of Young Start, a fund run by The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland for the Scottish Government, is to help young people aged 8-24 become more confident and play an active part in realising their potential.

A substantial funding boost for Impactful Starts

Between August 2025 and July 2027, we will deliver 2 x 12-week blocks of Impactful Starts in Glasgow each year.

Impactful Starts is a stage 1, non-traditional creative employability project. Over 12 weeks, using the arts as a focus, we help participants build their confidence, make new friends, get creative, and prepare for progression into work, further education, or training.

In this programme, young people aged 16-24 work with by an artist, youth worker, and opportunities co-ordinator who provide 1:1 and group support. They get to explore creative engagement techniques such as painting, sculpture, musicmaking, theatre, photography, animation, or poetry. Young people also have the opportunity to go on field trips and take part in local community art, heritage, and/or climate action projects. At the same time, they get support to establish a routine, create a CV, prepare for interviews, identify opportunities, and plan next steps for their future.

This is a vital programme for young people and the whole team at Impact Arts is very grateful for TNL’s support.

(Impact Arts is currently running a fundraising campaign for Impactful Starts Edinburgh and Glasgow. Give a young person a brighter future – make a donation before August 29, 2025 and be automatically entered into our prize draw to win one of three framed artworks.)

Welcome back, Sketchy Youths!

In other exciting news, this new funding will also allow Impact Arts to relaunch our popular Sketchy Youths programme.

Sketchy Youths is a peer-led group and young artists collective for 16-24 year olds and will be open to both past and new participants. In Autumn 2025, over the course of 10 weeks, eight initial Sketchy Youths ‘champions’ will meet weekly to receive training in preparing and delivering their own creative workshops for young people on the next Impactful Starts programmes.

Throughout the following 20 months, Sketchy Youth creatives will encourage ‘graduates’ of Impactful Starts to join them in attending monthly facilitated Sketchy Youth half-day workshops to learn additional creative skills and shape the ongoing design of our programmes. To strengthen community arts, youth voice, advocacy, and leadership skills, they’ll encourage the ‘graduates’ to volunteer on programmes where they can also access dedicated open studio space within The Boardwalk on an independent, drop-in basis.

We would like to thank The National Lottery Community Fund for their contribution which will help us deliver life-changing art programmes for young people in Glasgow.

Fund Impact Arts’ programmes in your area

Would your organisation like to contribute funding towards an Impact Arts programme?

Email development@impactarts.co.uk to discuss with our Development Team.

Commission a project

Would you like to commission Impact Arts for a project? We deliver a variety of commissions including public art like murals, community consultations, and creative workshops in locations across Central Scotland.

Visit our commissions webpage to learn more and see our creative work.

Impact Arts is a community arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering creative arts and support programmes for children, young people, adults, families, and older people who are facing disadvantages or barriers to progress in life. Our mission is to tackle inequalities, address poverty, and transform lives through art and creativity.  

2024 marked a significant milestone – our 30th anniversary! Last month we celebrated with a vibrant and memorable celebration at The Boardwalk. The event was a true testament to the creativity and community spirit that has driven our organisation over the past three decades.

The Boardwalk was transformed into a dynamic hub of artistic expression, showcasing the incredible talents of past and present participants. The building was adorned with artwork, carefully curated to reflect the diversity and depth of creativity that Impact Arts has nurtured over the years. Every corner of the venue was alive with colour and inspiration, as visitors explored the rich array of visual art on display.

But the celebration was far from just a static exhibition. We wanted this milestone to be as interactive and engaging as possible, embodying the essence of what Impact Arts stands for. Attendees were invited to participate in a variety of hands-on art activities, allowing them to tap into their own creativity and contribute to the vibrant atmosphere.

In addition to the visual art, the event featured a series of film screenings, highlighting key moments, projects, and the incredible impact we’ve had on communities across Scotland. These films brought to life the stories of those who have been part of our journey, reminding us all of the power of art to transform lives.

An immersive experiences of the day was the silent disco sound works. With headphones on, guests danced their way through specially curated soundscapes, blending music, spoken word, and ambient sounds in an innovative celebration of art and community.

The celebration also honoured the voices of those who have shaped Impact Arts over the years. Animated stories of past participants were screened, offering a poignant and inspiring look at the personal journeys that have been intertwined with our organisation. These stories resonated deeply with everyone present, underscoring the lasting influence of our work.

Drag performances from CJ Banks, DizzyDoll and Lil King Trash Mouth, brought glamour, excitement, and a powerful message of inclusivity. The performances were a celebration of diversity, creativity, and the joy of self-expression—values that are at the core of Impact Arts’ mission.

Our 30th birthday celebration was not just a look back at our past, but of our ongoing commitment to fostering creativity, community, and positive change. We are immensely grateful to everyone who joined us at The Boardwalk and to all who have supported us over the past 30 years. As we look to the future, we are more inspired than ever to continue our work, empowering individuals and communities through the transformative power of art.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to the next 30 years of creativity, connection, and impact!

It’s been 30 years since Impact Arts was founded. Over those years, many individuals have found something here to take away with them in to the future.

We interviewed some of our past participants on how Impact Arts has impacted them, and we would love to share their stories with you.

On 22 August, the Impact Arts team will be raising a glass to three decades of life-changing work, as we prepare to mark our 30th anniversary.

Since Impact Arts was established by Susan Aktemel in 1994, we have embarked on a mission to tackle social inequality using creativity and art, improving the lives of some of Scotland’s most vulnerable people in communities all over the country. Over the years we have been behind hundreds of projects, from large-scale public art to music projects with the likes of Amy Macdonald and Hector Bizerk, live theatre to pop-up cafes, and interior design workshops to creative learning with those in the criminal justice system. Since 1994 more than 300,000 people have been engaged in or supported by our work, with projects winning numerous awards and accolades.

Early projects included the creation of the Woodlands Mosaic Bollards in Glasgow’s West End in 1997, which continue to bring colour and vibrancy to the area today. Other community artworks have included the Linkes Mosaic Mural in Knightswood, first created in 2005, and local young people creating stained glass windows to brighten the Pineview Housing Association homes in Drumchapel.

Linkes Mosaic Mural in Knightswood

In 2003 Impact Arts launched Fab Pad, which supported hundreds of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness to sustain their tenancies through creative interior design workshops. The project was delivered right across central Scotland, including at one point taking over a whole floor of the Red Road flats in North Glasgow with a “showroom” and workshop, helping many tenants to transform their homes on a budget while learning valuable new skills. The project ran until 2015, and continues today as Make It Your Own, supporting vulnerable tenants to help transform their home lives.  

Boys showing off upcycled chairs as part of Impact Arts Creative Pathways programme in 2012

Today Impact Arts continues to push boundaries with its life-changing work from our bases in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Irvine. We continues to welcome older communities struggling with social isolation, improving the wellbeing and attainment of children via art therapy, and empowering teens and young adults through employability programmes such as Creative Pathways, and CashBack to the Future, which is currently running with groups in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and North Ayrshire.

Since 2023 we have been based at The Boardwalk in the heart of Glasgow’s Merchant City, transforming the building into a purpose-built creative and accessible events venue, boasting a 180-capacity theatre, seven studios and meetings rooms capable of hosting everything from dance rehearsals and creative workshops to corporate events and conferences. The Boardwalk is proving a popular choice for businesses and public bodies looking to support the broad work of Impact Arts when booking event space.

As well as being home to many of Impact Arts’s own projects, The Boardwalk also hosts many of the country’s leading creative organisations, from permanent theatrical tenants like Solar Bear and Birds of Paradise, to dance studios brought to life by the likes of S-MB Company and The Work Room, and transformative creative engagement charities like Playlist for Life and Inspiring Scotland.

On 22 August The Boardwalk will host a special 30th anniversary celebration, with stakeholders, former participants, and friends invited to relive highlights from our past projects and see recent work by a range of groups including some of the work created as part of this year’s Cashback Summer programmes. 

Today we are launching a call our for those who have been impacted by our work over the past 30 years and been part of one of our projects, to get in touch and share their stories which we will incorporate in our August celebrations. You can fill in a online form  or email 30thAnniversary@impactarts.co.uk

Fiona Doring, Chief Executive Officer of Impact Arts, said: “Impact Arts was born out of the recognition that taking part in arts and creative activities can be life changing. For 30 years we have built on this philosophy to support the people and communities across Scotland, who are least likely to have access to the arts, to tackle the big issues preventing them from achieving their potential.

Impact Arts has been at the heart of positive change for thousands of people’s lives and as we turn 30, we are taking time to reflect upon and celebrate the stories of all of these individual people for whom engaging in arts projects has been transformational.”

An extraordinary display of generosity and creativity as Glasgow Charity Fashion Show successfully raised over £47,000 for Impact Arts. This remarkable achievement was the result of a series of innovative fundraising events by the students, culminating in a spectacular fashion show that captivated the hearts and minds of all attendees.

Throughout the past year, Glasgow Charity Fashion orchestrated a diverse range of fundraising activities, each one contributing to the impressive total. From cake sales and pub quizzes, to sponsored swims, and taking part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk.

The highlight of the fundraising efforts was undoubtedly the fashion show, held at Glasgow’s iconic venue, The Old Fruitmarket. The event featured an eclectic mix of designs from both emerging and established designers, all of whom volunteered their time and talents. Showcasing their theme of “Dreams” aiming to provide “escapism in a world where reality can be nightmarish.”

Models strutted down the runway in stunning outfits, each piece a testament to the creativity and innovation thriving within the city. The fashion show not only provided a platform for local talent but also served as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the arts. The finale of the show saw models walk down in dresses designed by some of our very own Craft Café members!

The substantial donation of over £47,000 will have a profound impact on Impact Arts and the communities we serve. With this generous donation, it will help us to expand our reach, offering more programmes and engaging with more individuals of all ages, from children to the elderly, fostering creativity and boosting mental health and well-being.

Impact Arts’ CEO, Fiona Doring, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the donation, stating, “We are incredibly thankful to Glasgow Charity Fashion Show and everyone who contributed to this amazing effort. This donation will make a significant difference in our ability to provide creative opportunities and support to those who need it most. The power of the arts to transform lives is immense, and with this support, we can continue to make a positive impact in our community.”

Last week our Craft Café Govan members launched their Back Court Concert exhibition at The Boardwalk.

The amazing work of 50 Craft Café members was celebrated with a beautiful showcase of their work from the past year. From an Indian ink project to watercolours from the community garden. As well as individual artwork from members past and present.

The main event was the Back Court Concerts project, celebrating the playful performances the members put on in the back courts as kids. Including a miniature tenements set, a crankie shadow puppet machine, and some performances by the members.

Thank you to everyone who came along and helped celebrate our amazing members. The exhibition will be on display till 17th November at The Boardwalk and we highly recommend you pop in to see the wonderful, nostalgic pieces of art!

Location: The Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick St, Glasgow

At the beginning of the year Lush approached Impact Arts to collaborate on a very exciting project! The beautiful cosmetics company were looking for new designs for their gorgeous knot wrap collection, to be launched alongside the opening on their new Glasgow Store. The Knot wraps are a sustainable way to wrap gifts and can be used over and over in a variety of different ways. Lush has a handy guide on their website showing some of the different folds and wraps that can be achieved for different items.

Our amazing Creative Pathways participants took on the brief and came up with various ideas and designs before settling on a final wrap agreed by Lush.

The design was influenced by the colours of autumn, woodland creatures and a clear sky on a crisp October night. It was developed by the young people in the group who wanted to combine their individual styles to create a Wimmelbilder style image in which the viewer sees something new every time they look at it.

The participants Knot Wrap can be purchased here and is available in their UK Stores.