NATIONAL LOTTERY APPLICATION
Creative Scotland £100k - Submitted 19 Nov 2025
REFERENCE:
CS-OFO-37512-4C94
DECISION TIME:
14 weeks
📅 TIMELINE:
Submitted: 19 November 2025
Expected Decision: ~February 2026
If approved, project starts: March 2026
PROJECT TITLE:
UF51: Commissioning 30 Scottish Musicians for Ethical Streaming Infrastructure
AMOUNT REQUESTED:
£100,000
DURATION:
15 months
PROJECT DATES:
March 2026 - June 2027
APPLICANT:
Universal Frequency51 CIC (SC870603)
Registered: 19 November 2025
PROJECT LEAD:
Brian Hughes
Based: Stoneymollan, West Dunbartonshire
Artist Commissions
£45,000
Research & Impact
£20,000
Platform Delivery
£20,000
Marketing
£8,000
Professional Services
£5,000
Accessibility
£2,000
MAJOR FOCUS (over 50%):
- People supported in health/wellbeing groups
- Disabled people, inclusive of neurodivergence and mental health
MINOR FOCUS (under 50%):
- People living in rural areas of Scotland (Loch Lomond focus)
- People experiencing poverty (free access model)
Musicians' Union Scotland
Artist recruitment & outreach
Scottish Music Centre
Artist recruitment & outreach
Friends of Loch Lomond
Community outreach
University of the West of Scotland - Applied Psychology Research Group (APRG)
Research themes: Psychological Wellbeing, Health & Wellbeing, Reducing Inequalities
🎯 BEST CONTACT - WELLBEING FOCUS:
Dr Greig Inglis
Research: "how social relationships and economic inequalities shape health and well-being outcomes"
Stigma, discrimination, socioeconomic health inequalities
RESEARCH LEAD:
Dr Adrian Parke
Adrian.Parke@uws.ac.uk
Tel: 0141 848 7673
HEAD OF DIVISION (PSYCHOLOGY):
Dr Christopher O'Donnell
Christopher.odonnell@uws.ac.uk
Tel: 0141 848 3798
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING:
Dr James Taylor
james.taylor@uws.ac.uk
Head of Division: Mental Health, Midwifery & Health
WHY APRG IS PERFECT:
- • "Psychological Wellbeing" theme = exactly Frequency Chamber
- • Focus on "vulnerable populations experiencing stigma"
- • "Exploration of interventions" = what we need validated
- • UN SDG aligned: "Good Health and Wellbeing"
STATUS: Not contacted yet - EMAIL DRAFT READY BELOW ⬇️
To: Adrian.Parke@uws.ac.uk (APRG Research Lead)
CC: Christopher.odonnell@uws.ac.uk (Head of Division)
Subject: Research Partnership Enquiry - Digital Mental Health & Frequency-Based Interventions
Dear Dr Parke,
I'm Brian Hughes, founder of Universal Frequency51 CIC (SC870603) - a Scottish social enterprise building a free digital mental health platform combining evidence-based healing frequencies with ethical music streaming.
I'm reaching out because APRG's Psychological Wellbeing research theme - particularly the focus on "vulnerable populations" and "exploration of interventions" - aligns perfectly with what we're building.
What we've built: A "Frequency Chamber" feature using peer-reviewed protocols (MIT's 40Hz gamma entrainment research, HeartMath HRV biofeedback, evidence-based breathing techniques) to provide free mental health support. The platform is live at uf51.com.
What we're seeking: A research partner to:
- Help validate the efficacy of our frequency-based interventions
- Co-design research methodology for measuring mental health outcomes
- Potentially collaborate on future grant applications
We've recently applied to Creative Scotland's National Lottery Fund (£100k) to commission 30 Scottish musicians for the platform, with mental health impact measurement as a core deliverable.
Would anyone in APRG be interested in an initial conversation? I'm based in Stoneymollan (West Dunbartonshire) so could easily visit Paisley campus.
Happy to share platform access or our technical documentation showing the science behind each protocol.
Best regards,
Brian Hughes
Founder, Universal Frequency51 CIC (SC870603)
uf51.com | Frequency Chamber: uf51.com/FrequencyChamber
⚡ SEND TO: Adrian.Parke@uws.ac.uk (CC: Christopher.odonnell@uws.ac.uk)
CHANCES: 40-50%
Honest but realistic. Strong application, competitive field.
✅ STRENGTHS:
- ✓ Platform is LIVE and WORKING - not vaporware, can click and see it's real
- ✓ Clear social impact mission - mental health focus is timely and needed
- ✓ Artist-first model - 90% revenue to artists is genuinely ethical
- ✓ Local focus - Loch Lomond & West Dunbartonshire is specific and credible
- ✓ Evidence-based approach - research partnership shows seriousness
- ✓ CIC structure - proves commitment to community benefit over profit
- ✓ Thorough risk assessment - shows project management capability
- ✓ Free access model - removes barriers for underserved communities
⚠️ RISKS/WEAKNESSES:
- ⚠️ Solo founder - no team mentioned, raises capacity questions
- ⚠️ No track record - first time applying to Creative Scotland
- ⚠️ New CIC - registered same day as application (19 Nov 2025)
- ⚠️ Platform very new - only live since October 2024
- ⚠️ Research partnership unconfirmed - "in discussions" not locked in
- ⚠️ Ambitious scope - 30 musicians is a lot for solo founder
- ⚠️ Competition - established arts orgs with proven track records also applying
💭 BOTTOM LINE:
This is a genuine, innovative, mission-driven project with a working platform as proof of capability. BUT it's coming from a brand new org with no funding track record, which Creative Scotland will see as higher risk. The platform being LIVE is huge - most applicants have nothing but ideas. 40-50% feels honest: real chance, but not guaranteed.
🎯 IF REJECTED:
Don't take it as failure. Apply again in 6-12 months with:
- More users on platform (proof of traction)
- Confirmed research partnership (not "in discussions")
- 1-2 commissioned artists already (show it works at small scale)
- Maybe a co-founder/team member (reduces capacity risk)
🎯 IF APPROVED:
This changes everything. £100k + Creative Scotland endorsement = credibility for future funding. Platform goes from "interesting experiment" to "nationally-backed mental health initiative."
NEXT 14 WEEKS (Nov 2025 - Feb 2026):
- → Keep building platform - show growth & traction
- → Get more users - organic proof it works
- → Lock in University of West Scotland partnership
- → Start conversations with Musicians' Union & Scottish Music Centre
- → Document everything - impact data, user testimonials
- → DON'T sit and wait - act like you already got the funding
DECISION TIME (Feb 2026):
Creative Scotland will email decision. If approved: celebrate, then GET TO WORK. If rejected: breathe, learn, apply again stronger. Either way, you've got a real platform doing real good.
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, YOU'RE BUILDING SOMETHING REAL
♾️❤️♾️
Documented: 19 November 2025