The Clutha Trust builds on a decade of impact with Glasgow 2026 Festival funding

• The Clutha Trust is one of 161 organisations benefiting from the £1.25 million Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund. Funding has supported a new BEAT music programme for 25 young people, ending with a live showcase at Clutha Live on 1 and 2 August.
• The programme gives young people the chance to write songs, perform live and learn from industry professionals, building skills and confidence through music.
• Daniel Parks joined Clutha Kids as a young performer and has now returned as a tutor. The full-time musician, who has performed alongside Kings of Leon, is helping inspire the next generation ahead of the showcase.

When the Commonwealth Games last came to Glasgow in 2014, The Clutha Bar was rebuilding in the aftermath of the 2013 helicopter crash that claimed 10 lives. 

More than a decade later, The Clutha Trust is helping young people build confidence, develop skills and discover opportunities through music – with support from the Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund helping the charity reach even more people across the city.

The Clutha Trust is one of 161 organisations benefiting from the expanded £1.25 million Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund, which is supporting community-led projects and events across all 23 of Glasgow’s wards as part of the Glasgow 2026 Festival and Commonwealth Games.

Through support from the fund, The Clutha Trust has delivered a new programme of BEAT music workshops, bringing together 25 young people to work with industry professionals, develop new skills and create their own live music showcase. The programme will culminate in a special performance at Clutha Live on the weekend of 1 and 2 August as part of the wider Glasgow 2026 Festival celebrations.

Since its creation following the helicopter tragedy in 2013, The Clutha Trust has provided opportunities for thousands of young people through music, performance and community programmes, creating a welcoming environment where young people can learn new skills, express themselves and connect with others.

One of the strongest examples of the Trust’s impact is 21-year-old Daniel Parks.

Daniel first joined Clutha Kids around a decade ago after attending one of the Trust’s free music sessions. What started as a chance to perform in front of an audience soon developed into a passion that would shape his future.

Today, Daniel is a full-time musician who has performed alongside major artists including Kings of Leon and is preparing to open for The Bootleg Beatles at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom this September. He has also returned to The Clutha Trust as a tutor, helping support the next generation of young musicians.

Daniel said: “The Clutha Trust gave me opportunities I simply wouldn't have had otherwise. It gave me confidence, introduced me to incredible people and helped me realise that music wasn't just something I loved - it could actually become my career.

“When I first joined, I was just a kid who wanted to play music. The Trust gave me a stage, encouraged me to keep going and helped me develop as a performer. I honestly don't think I'd be where I am today without it.”

Daniel has been involved in helping deliver the programme and says it demonstrates the lasting impact community-led projects can have.

He said: "One of the best things about The Clutha Trust is seeing people come back and give something back to the next generation.

"Watching someone arrive feeling nervous and unsure of themselves, then seeing them grow in confidence and discover what they're capable of, is brilliant.

"That's why funding like this matters. It means more young people will have somewhere they can belong, learn new skills, meet new people and discover talents they perhaps didn't know they had.

"Hopefully, in another ten years' time, one of the young people coming through these programmes will be telling the same story I'm telling today."

The Glasgow 2026 Festival is taking place from 23 May to 9 August 2026, bringing hundreds of community-led events, performances and activities to neighbourhoods across the city. The Glasgow 2026 Festival Fund has been expanded from £250,000 to £1.25 million following overwhelming demand, helping create a lasting legacy of participation, creativity and community long after the Games have ended.