We caught up with Becky Robertshaw and Juliet Stanton from the Edinburgh University Crafting and Sewing Society who kindly fundraised £200 for Impact Arts at their Crafty Ceilidh event!

Keep reading to find out why they chose Impact Arts, what their society does, and how the event went on the day.

How did you discover Impact Arts and what made you choose us as the cause for your fundraising event?

“Our Society has worked with Impact Arts in the past, as the work they do is so aligned with what our society does. Our previous president Eve worked with Impact Arts when their main office was in Edinburgh, and since then the charity has always been kept in mind for fundraising events.

The Crafty Ceilidh was a collaborative event with five other creative societies in the University of Edinburgh (though definitely not all of them!) and so we thought it was only right to be raising money for a cause that supports creativity means across Scotland, which aligns with our weekly sessions which brings everyone together with arts and crafts.”

Can you tell us more about your society and what you do?

“Our Society meets once a week to make a new craft. We provide all of the materials and instructions, so members simply need to come along and let their creativity flow.

Outside of these weekly sessions we also hold various social events, such as an annual trip to Doodles for pottery painting, fundraising and cross-society collaborations. The ceilidh was definitely some new ground for us to cover!”

Can you tell us more about your fundraising event and how it went on the day?

“We’ve had the idea to hold a ceilidh for a while now, and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to collaborate with other creative societies at the University. This included Baking Society, Arts and Painting Society, Pottery Society, Knit and Crochet Society, and Creative Writers Society – as you can see, most creative bases were covered!

Due to the number of societies working together, we knew the number of attendees would also be higher, and so it would be a great opportunity to raise money for causes important to the student body we represent. Along with raising money for Abdul’s family in Gaza, we found it was only natural to support Impact Arts in this venture, with the work they do being so aligned with the work of each society.

In the end, we had nearly 100 guests come and ceilidh away, with a raffle filled with prizes from local businesses across Edinburgh also taking place. The theme was Spring creativity – so guests were encouraged to dress up and get creative with what they wore.

It’s safe to say people had a great time, dancing in the start of Spring and raising lots of money whilst doing it!”

If you’d like to fundraise for Impact Arts, we would love to hear from you. To find out more about how we can support you with your fundraising event or activity, email development@impactarts.co.uk

Impact Arts is a leading arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering life-changing 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 has appointed two Youth Trustees to join our Board. We’re thrilled to welcome Humna Bukhari and Rachel Maclean.

As an arts charity delivering life-changing creative programmes to people of all ages, including children and young people, it’s important to us to ensure the voices of young people are central to our governance and strategy.

We are committed to building a Board that reflects the diversity of the people and communities that we serve and we value the benefit of having different experiences and points of view amongst our Trustees.

We are actively trying to increase the diversity of our Board and specifically to put young people at the heart of our organisational decision-making. This aligns with the re-establishment of the Sketchy Youths, our Youth Steering Group.

Get to know our new Youth Trustees!

Humna Bukhari

Why did you want to join Impact Arts Board as a Youth Trustee?

After interning for Impact Arts, I felt a need to join their mission in one way or another.

The way Impact Arts does things is inclusive, bold and, well, impactful! I’d love nothing more to be a part of that once again.

Tell us more about yourself and your experience prior to joining Impact Arts as a Trustee.

I am a psychology graduate who is currently working as a carer. Aside from that, I make and sell art as a hobby.

What do you hope to achieve as a Youth Trustee for Impact Arts?

I learned so much during my time, and am grateful to have the chance to keep that going!

Rachel Maclean

Why did you want to join Impact Arts Board as a Youth Trustee?

I’ve followed along with Impact Arts and the projects for a while now, having taken part in a similar project myself before coming to university. Access to free creative arts projects gave me the push to go and study design further. Without access to these projects, I would have never attended university, which has opened up so many doors for me and allowed me to pursue design professionally, which is something I never thought I would do.

I wanted to join the Board with the hope that I would be able to share my opinions and perspective, which hopefully will help improve the representation of young people, especially young people who rely on free creative arts projects as a gateway, whether that’s to go on to study further, find employment, or just to foster creativity.

I really believe that being creative and getting involved in the arts can make a massive difference to your life, from the positive effects arts engagement can have on your mental health and wellbeing to the transferable skills that can be gained through engagement in creativity and creative projects.

Tell us more about yourself and your experience prior to joining Impact Arts as a Trustee.

I’m currently a graphic design student at Duncan and Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, hoping to pursue print design and photography. I love anything to do with art and design, and I’m a big outdoors person. I spent a lot of time when I was younger doing environmental volunteering, which gave me a massive love and appreciation for the environment and a strong interest in conservation, something that has stayed with me and influenced the way that I work within design.

I’ve worked within fundraising and social media within university recently as part of the Dundee University Sign Language Society, having been our social media coordinator for two years now, and fundraising coordinator for a year!

I originally joined the society to learn basic BSL and gain more awareness about D/deaf culture. But over the last few years, I’ve been able to learn about fundraising, raising money for charity, social media, and, most importantly, got to meet and work with amazing charities and people within the D/deaf community.

What do you hope to achieve as a Youth Trustee for Impact Arts?

I hope that, alongside Humna, I will be able to provide a different and unique opinion to the Board and be able to bring a different perspective, one which will hopefully be valuable and aligned with other young people involved in Impact Arts. I want to listen to those participating in projects and the people around me within the charity, making sure I understand their perspective and opinion, so I can better communicate this at a Board level.

I hope to make sure that young people within projects feel listened to, valued, and know that their opinions and experiences within the charity are important and that they are being communicated at a Board level. Nothing is more valuable than a lived experience, and the people who take part in projects have the most perspective and knowledge to give, and this will be what I focus on within my time on the Board. 

Thank you to Rachel and Humna for sharing your stories. The whole team at Impact Arts is thrilled to have you both onboard.

Impact Arts is a leading arts charity based in Scotland. Since 1994, we’ve been delivering life-changing 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.  

For the first time, Scottish arts charity Impact Arts is sharing a manifesto, urging Scotland’s leaders to invest in art programmes as a way to tackle inequality and poverty.

We’re advocating for the people we support and amplifying their voices.

Impact Through Art: Tackling Inequality & Poverty in Scotland

A Manifesto by Impact Arts

Our Vision: A Scotland where people and communities benefit from life-transforming creativity that tackles inequalities and addresses poverty.

Our Ask: Impact Arts urges Scotland’s leaders to invest in life-changing arts-based and creative approaches which can build a more inclusive, stronger, and imaginative society able to address societal inequalities and poverty.

WELLBEING

1) Recognise Creative Engagement as a Public Health Approach12

Give equal recognition to participation in the arts alongside traditionally recognised health improvement approaches such as participation in sports and physical activity and healthy eating. Scientific evidence demonstrates the physical and mental benefits for all ages and communities including those who experience poverty and inequality from taking part in creative activities.

This upholds Article 31 of the UNCRC which recognises children’s rights to a cultural and artistic life.

2) Improve Access to Creative Preventative Mental Health Approaches34

Recognise that engagement in quality creative activities promotes wellbeing and improves mental health.5

Creative approaches address the mental health crisis through early intervention, preventing escalation of mental health problems and aiding recovery.

Long-term community-based interventions support mental and physical health, reduce loneliness and improve social connections.

3) Ensure Access to Arts-Based Therapies for Children Facing Trauma and Poverty6

Promote arts-based therapies as a core element of individual school learning plans for children who have experience of trauma, poverty and inequality.

Evidence from Impact Arts’ Primary School Art Therapy programme shows measurable improvements in confidence and self-esteem, resilience and coping strategies.

Younger children often struggle to articulate trauma; creative therapies offer accessible, effective alternatives to traditional counselling.

4) Embed Creative, Flexible and Person-Centred Approaches into Whole Family Wellbeing

Recognise that each family’s experience is unique, and that creative and responsive approaches to needs are highly effective.

Impact Arts’ experience of delivering whole family support demonstrates that a flexible, person-centred, partnership approach achieves the greatest impact on family wellbeing.

5) Support Creative Ageing to Bring Joy to Later Years7

Ensure that all older people, including those living in poverty, have access to creative activities, which reduce isolation and improve wellbeing.

Through academic research, Craft Café has demonstrated the health and social benefits of long term, regular engagement in creative activity and group projects for older people both in community and care home settings.

LIFE CHANCES

6) Increase Access to Quality Arts-Based Education & Employment Programmes89

Increase availability of creative service delivery and innovative approaches to educational attainment and employability.

Creative methodologies are successful in engaging people and communities who are racialised and marginalised, especially where other interventions have failed.

Creative engagement is effective in giving people a voice and encouraging self-expression, delivered out with traditional classroom settings and through practical hands-on learning techniques.

7) Support Neurodiverse Young People Through Quality Arts & Creativity Projects1011

Champion the impact of quality arts-based projects in supporting neurodiverse young people. Quality creative arts based projects can significantly improve emotional regulation, concentration, confidence, and social connection for autistic and ADHD young people.

Impact Arts’ creative youth projects demonstrate that neurodiverse young people who struggle in traditional learning environments engage more consistently and are better able to express themselves and to communicate their thoughts and ideas.

8) Promote Creative Home-Making as Key to Sustaining Tenancies & Preventing Homelessness12

Prioritise engagement of new tenants in creative home making projects to sustain tenancies and prevent homelessness.

Evidence from Impact Arts’ Make It Your Own model demonstrates that creative home-making empowers tenants and supports tenancy sustainment through creative personalisation of homes, helping to prevent homelessness.

CONNECTED COMMUNITIES

9) Celebrate Creative Placemaking13

Prioritise arts in regeneration strategies, recognising it as the catalyst for enlivening our towns and communities.

Creativity is a powerful methodology for engaging diverse communities and under heard voices, bringing communities together, and instigating future community regeneration projects.

Impact Arts urges Scotland’s leaders to embed creativity across public policy. By investing in arts-based and creative approaches, we can build a more inclusive, stronger, and imaginative society.

“This manifesto sets out a clear vision for a Scotland where creativity is recognised as essential to tackling inequality and poverty. It reflects the voices and experiences of the people and communities we work with every day who too often feel left behind. For decades, Impact Arts has seen first hand how arts-based approaches transform their lives through improving wellbeing, strengthening communities, and developing life chances. Ahead of the 2026 Scottish elections, we urge decision makers to recognise the arts as a vital part of building a fairer, healthier, and more connected Scotland.” – Fiona Doring, CEO of Impact Arts

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.  

References

  1. CultureAct — Culture Counts Culture Counts call upon all political parties to support a Culture Act in the next Scottish Parliament  ↩︎
  2. ARTS CULTURE HEALTH WELLBEING SCOTLAND ↩︎
  3. VHS Manifesto for Health Creation Promoting a prevention centred health system ↩︎
  4. Professor Daisy Fancourt speaks at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Creative Health – SBRG ↩︎
  5. Arts, creative health and wellbeing – National Academy for Social Prescribing | NASP ↩︎
  6. 145afa_187b60c269f4497fbe1af42447ec67a9.pdf A wider range of services, open to all children and young people, including appropriate non-clinical supports. ↩︎
  7. Social isolation and loneliness: Recovering our Connections 2023 to 2026 – gov.scot ↩︎
  8. Creative | My World of Work ↩︎
  9. No One Left Behind: employability strategic plan 2024 to 2027 – gov.scot provides flexible and person-centred support. ↩︎
  10. Advocacy Framework — Children’s and Youth Arts Advocacy ↩︎
  11. Seizing The Moment | Scottish Autism Improve support for autistic learners and an end to informal exclusions in education. ↩︎
  12. Manifesto-30102525.pdf Everyone Home Collective, Housing Justice Lack of prevention focus to be tackled. ↩︎
  13. SURF-2026-Manifesto-Phase-One-Research.pdf  Sustainable funding and removing invisible barriers. ↩︎

We’re delighted to announce that Impact Arts has been awarded 3-year Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland!

This funding marks the first time in Impact Arts’ 30-year history that it has received this level of unrestricted core funding. Given the current funding pressures facing the third sector, this award will help the charity remain sustainable into the future and allow us to continue to deliver transformative work.

Our reaction to the news

This announcement was definitely cause for celebration. We’re so grateful for this recognition for the great work our teams are delivering to help children, young people, adults, families and older people facing barriers or disadvantages across Scotland.

Impact Arts CEO, Fiona Doring, says:

“We are thrilled to have been awarded Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding and see this as strong recognition for the life transforming work that our artists deliver with people and communities across central Scotland. It’s heartening to see the increase in arts organisations that work with local communities join the portfolio and appreciation for the importance of bringing arts and creativity to people who would not otherwise have access to them.”

It’s fantastic to see so many other arts organisations receive funding to support their work, including our The Boardwalk tenants, Solar Bear, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company and Paragon. Congratulations!

How we’ll use this funding to support people across Central Scotland

Being awarded this level of funding will allow us to continue to tackle inequalities, improve wellbeing and life chances, combat loneliness, connect communities and engage people through vital creative engagement.

The funding received from Creative Scotland will go towards the delivery of life-changing projects including:

  • Art Wise – helping families meet their individual needs, thrive and stay connected through creative and therapeutic creative arts, and helping parents/carers better understand their child’s behaviour.
  • Art Therapy – offering a safe and relaxing place for children to express themselves and better understand their emotions through creativity and play with an art therapist.
  • CashBack to the Future – helping young people make friends, get creative, learn new skills and have their voice heard. For young people who find school tricky, struggle with mental health, are care experienced, or are new to Scotland.
  • Impactful Starts – helping young people get creative, gain confidence and earn qualifications through a non-traditional creative employability programme – and more!

This support helps us work closer towards our vision for a Scotland where people benefit from life-transforming creativity that tackles inequalities and addresses poverty.

Learn more about the projects we deliver at Impact Arts.

At Impact Arts, we’re passionate about bringing creativity to communities, transforming spaces, and empowering young people through the arts. Our latest project in partnership with Sustrans Scotland ‘I: Connect’, is a perfect example of this mission in action. Located along the National Cycle Network Route 7 at Low Green Park in Irvine, this stunning new mural has breathed fresh life into a once-neglected underpass, transforming it into a welcoming, meaningful space for everyone to enjoy.

We had the pleasure of collaborating with the incredible design team at Bespoke Atelier, as well as some talented young creatives, to bring this mural to life. Together, we set out to create a piece that not only reflects the natural beauty and heritage of the area but also connects deeply with the local community.

A Community-Led Vision

What makes this mural truly special is the way it was shaped by the community itself. Through a series of engagement events, we gathered input from local residents, listening closely to what they wanted to see on the wall. This consultation process ensured that the final design was a genuine reflection of Irvine’s unique traditions, heritage, and the biodiversity of the River Irvine.

From the Marymass Festival to the town’s rich maritime history, these cultural elements have been beautifully woven into the mural’s design, creating a layered, textured piece that captures the spirit of the local environment.

Empowering Young Creatives

At Impact Arts, we’re committed to empowering young people through the creative process. As part of this project, we employed young artists from the area to help facilitate the consultation sessions and work directly on the mural’s design and installation. Working alongside Bespoke Atelier, these young artists gained invaluable experience in every aspect of the project—from gathering and analysing community input to learning painting techniques and mastering the use of stencils, masking, and projectors.

The result? A stunning mural that celebrates Irvine’s natural landscape, community, and traditions, all while providing our young creatives with hands-on experience that will boost their employability and confidence.

A New Community Landmark

On Thursday, 17th October, we unveiled the mural at a vibrant community event, where locals came together to celebrate this incredible new addition to the town. The ‘I: Connect’ mural not only transforms the underpass into a more enjoyable space but also serves as a landmark that highlights the beauty of the River Irvine and encourages appreciation of the local environment.

We couldn’t be prouder of the work that’s been done to make this project a reality. Fiona Doring, Chief Executive Officer of Impact Arts, captured the heart of the project, saying, “People using the cycle path along the River Irvine are in for a wonderful treat as the underpass has been transformed into a beautiful space representing many aspects of local life.”

Looking Ahead

For over 20 years, Impact Arts has been delivering creative participation projects from our base in Irvine, with a strong focus on youth employability and placemaking. The ‘I: Connect’ mural is a shining example of how we can blend these priorities to create something truly impactful.

We’re grateful for the support from North Ayrshire Council, Sustrans Scotland, and the Scottish Government in making this project possible, and we look forward to more opportunities to enrich communities through the power of art and creativity.

Whether you’re walking, wheeling, or cycling along Route 7, we hope this mural brings a smile to your face and reminds you of the rich culture and natural beauty that surrounds us.

Visit the mural today at Low Green Park, Irvine, and experience the transformation for yourself!

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.”