The initiative, known as Big Noise Govanhill, has been praised by Mr Sweeney for its role in empowering children and young people through music and nurturing relationships.
The programme, run by the charity Sistema Scotland, offers free after-school music sessions, performance opportunities, travel, and work experience to its participants.
Mr Sweeney visited the centre to see the impact of the programme first-hand.
He met with participants and staff, including the charity’s director of children, young people, and communities, Paul Sullivan, and head of centre Alison Gornall.
Labour councillors Soryia Siddique and Stephen Docherty also joined the visit.
The group was given a tour of the centre and observed some of the music lessons and practice sessions.
Big Noise Govanhill, which opened in 2013, is Sistema Scotland’s second centre.
It has around 1,100 members and works with pupils from St Bride’s, Holy Cross, Annette Street, and Cuthbertson Primary Schools, Holyrood Secondary School, and Shawlands Academy, as well as young children at the two nurseries in the area.
Sessions are also run for babies, and there is a Big Noise after-school orchestra programme based at Govanhill Neighbourhood Centre.
The programme also includes a school holiday club, with every child attending provided with a hot lunch every day.
The initiative aims to support young people in reaching their full potential by helping them develop vital life skills such as confidence, resilience, creativity, and aspiration, while also strengthening community ties through music and nurturing relationships.
Studies of the Big Noise model have found it enhances academic skills in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas, including listening, problem-solving, and concentration, as well as increasing participants’ self-esteem, their sense of belonging, and happiness.
Healthy food is also provided before all activity sessions.
Mr Sweeney said: “It was a privilege to visit Big Noise Govanhill and see the transformational work they do for children in the area – helping to combat inequality and poverty.
“I was impressed by the empowering programme that inspires the children to reach their full potential.
“We know that inequalities persist when it comes to access to musical education, with children from poorer backgrounds more likely to be excluded from opportunities.
“Big Noise recognises that, through access to music, they can enhance young people’s life skills.”
Sistema Scotland now runs six Big Noise centres supporting around 4,000 children and young people in communities around Scotland, including in Raploch and Fallin in Stirling, Douglas in Dundee, Torry in Aberdeen, and Wester Hailes in Edinburgh.
Paul Sullivan, director of children, young people, and communities at Sistema Scotland, said: “It was fantastic to welcome Paul, Soryia, and Stephen to Govanhill to share more about our work to tackle poverty and inequality in the area, and to help young people fulfil their potential.
“We were pleased to be able to show them first-hand the difference our work in Govanhill and in our five other centres across Scotland is making.
“It is clear that Big Noise, through nurturing and supportive relationships, helps children and young people reach their full potential by equipping them with vital life skills and enhancing their academic skills.
“We also know that taking part in Big Noise increases confidence and self-esteem, as well as participants’ creativity, aspiration and sense of belonging.”
