Honest conversations – Meaningful action.
Contact UsInclusion | Diversity | Equality | Access | Safeguarding
Our Purpose
The National Piping Centre’s IDEAS Working Group — Inclusion, Diversity, Equality, Access & Safeguarding — exists to help drive meaningful, long-term progress across our organisation and the wider traditional music sector.
The group brings together staff, artists and external voices with a broad range of professional and lived experiences. Its purpose is to provide challenge, perspective and accountability as we continue working towards a more equitable, representative, accessible and safe organisation.
We recognise that creating inclusive spaces requires ongoing reflection, honest conversation and consistent action. The IDEAS Working Group supports this by helping to shape policy, inform decision-making and identify areas where we can improve the experience of staff, students, audiences, participants and artists across all areas of our work.
This is not work with a fixed endpoint. It is an ongoing commitment to learning, listening and improving; helping guide our own journey as an organisation while supporting meaningful progress across the wider traditional music and cultural community.
Inclusion | Diversity | Equality | Access | Safeguarding
Our Aims
- Drive meaningful and measurable progress in inclusion, diversity, equality, access and safeguarding across all areas of The National Piping Centre’s work.
- Help identify, understand and reduce barriers to participation, ensuring our activity is welcoming, accessible and representative of the communities we serve.
- Provide constructive challenge, lived experience and accountability to help shape policy, decision-making, staff development and organisational culture.
- Support the development of safer, more inclusive and better-informed practices across the wider piping, drumming and traditional music community.
- Encourage open dialogue, collaboration and partnership both within the organisation and across the wider cultural sector to help create long-term positive change.
Our IDEAS Working Group
Callum sTamper
Callum is a Director at the National Piping Centre and leads the organisation’s EDI work. Originally from the Lake District, his career has spanned major infrastructure, FMCG and International Trade before joining the NPC in early 2023. A passionate supporter of both sport and music, Callum now has the privilege of working within the cultural sector in a role focused on building & developing teams, strengthening communities and helping the NPC continue to grow as an inclusive and welcoming organisation.
Laura-Beth MAcCrimmon
Laura-Beth “LB” is Head of Youth & Communities and Safeguarding Lead at the National Piping Centre, leading work that supports young people and communities through traditional music. Alongside her role at the NPC, she is an active musician and mandolin tutor with a strong interest in inclusive learning, participation and wellbeing. Laura-Beth is passionate about creating welcoming, supportive and safe environments where people feel connected, valued and able to develop with confidence.
Sophie Stringer
Sophie is Youth & Communities Coordinator at the National Piping Centre, supporting youth engagement programmes, piping tuition and the development of the Maket Collective. Originally from Australia, she studied Climate and Weather at the University of Melbourne before pursuing a career in piping performance and teaching in Scotland. Sophie is passionate about community, representation and creating accessible opportunities through traditional music.
Charles Comiskey
Charles is Finance Manager at the National Piping Centre and qualified as an ACCA Chartered Accountant after studying at Glasgow Caledonian University. With lived experience of disability since birth, Charles brings both professional expertise and personal insight to the EDI Working Group. He is passionate about ensuring inclusion and accessibility are embedded throughout organisational culture and decision-making.
Mobo Agoro
Mobolaji “Mobo” works across music, culture and artist development, supporting emerging artists and creating more equitable pathways within the industry. He leads the “Be The Standard” education strand at UP2STNDRD and is Pitch Scotland Co-ordinator and Booker. A PRS Foundation Power Up alumnus, Mobo is passionate about representation, mentorship and helping artists navigate sustainable creative careers.
Eilidh MAcDonald
Eilidh grew up in Saskatchewan, Canada, learning piping from both of her parents before spending a decade with the 78th Highlanders (Halifax Citadel) under the tuition of Bruce and Alex Gandy. Since moving to Glasgow in 2021, she has competed with both Scottish Power and Shotts and Dykehead. Alongside her musical career, Eilidh holds a PhD in Cardiovascular Physiology & Biophysics and works as a Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow.
Malin Lewis
Malin is an award-winning piper, fiddler, composer and instrument-maker from Moidart and Skye. Their work blends deep traditional roots with innovation, including developing a unique two-octave version of the Scottish smallpipes. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Malin’s recent work includes collaborations with Jason Singh, recording for the soundtrack of The Outrun and performances at Piping Live! They are passionate about creativity, representation and inclusion within traditional music.
Ben Lunn
Ben is a composer and creative producer whose work explores identity, disability, class and place through contemporary music. Originally from Sunderland, he is known both for his distinctive compositional voice and his commitment to collaboration, accessibility and representation within the arts. Ben’s work regularly creates opportunities for artists and audiences to engage with music in new and inclusive ways.
NPC Access Scheme
Music as a Pathway – Access That Matters
Maket Collective
Promoting and amplifying the voice and talent of influential female musicians
