IT'S A BALANCING ACT!

All kids deserve an After Schools Club.

Our funding stream for our worthwhile and well-attended After schools Circus Club is in the balance and has been delayed until January at the earliest! We need your help to keep it going. We are currently unable to run our weekly sessions, so the children are missing their classes and constantly asking about them.

So that we can offer them something this school term; the excellent news is that we have now raised enough for two free half-term circus days and possibly two more in the Christmas holidays.

However, we would welcome your support to ensure we get our After Schools Club back up and running for all.

A little bit about us...

I'm Julie, a professional Street Performer, director and workshop leader. I have worked throughout the UK and internationally at events, festivals, and community days with my Street Theatre Company, Rintintin. A large part of my work has been initiating exciting circus theatre projects for young people, especially those who may be vulnerable or from low-income families.

I am currently running one of these projects with the fantastic Ghanian acrobat and workshop leader PaaT from UK African Acrobats.

We provide unique, dynamic and fun weekly free mixed after-school circus classes, which are free for children of all abilities aged 6 and 14 who live in a South East London group of estates.

There are, of course After Schools Classes in the area. However, these are expensive and are out of financial reach for many families living in the estates. We wanted to offer free classes so these children would not be excluded from the advantages of extracurricular subjects. We feel it was necessary to balance things up for everyone.

With funding from the local council, the Circus Project began after a lockdown in October 2021. The joint estates' Tenants Residents Association has offered support and made the Community Hall's amenities available. The equipment is our own, but we have been kindly given a loan of the gym mats from a fellow performer.

With our collective experience, what PaaT and I offer is different. It helps these young people build confidence, get fit, work together, have fun and learn skills they never imagined they could do, plus being proud to show off their newfound talent to their peers.

With skills to try, like daring acrobatics, tricky juggling, balancing on stilts, hula hooping and spinning diabolos, the response and enthusiasm have been incredible.

The attendance has continually increased from our first six children to now 25, and it is still growing!

Due to the popularity of the weekly classes and several requests from the children, we continued through the half-term holidays offering two days of circus holiday school.

The children loved these extra days, especially when we sat together as a Circus family at one long table for a picnic lunch each day!

Here is some feedback from parents and children. It's so positive.

“I’ve seen such a change in Mina since she started the classes. She has come out of her shell.”

“Ali had no confidence and didn’t try new things. I can’t stop him now. He will give everything a go.”

“This is the best class ever in my life! PaaT has shown me how to do a cartwheel & is helping me with a back flip!!!”

” I have learnt to walk on Stilts, making me feel like a giant.”

So how can you help?

Sadly our external funding has been delayed and will not be available until January. Therefore, we need your support to continue these free accessible classes from the beginning of the academic year in September.

We must keep the Circus After Schools project running in this South London Estate as it ensures continuity and security for the children attending, plus a natural start time for others wishing to join.

Please help us continue providing an opportunity for these children to recognise their self-worth and unique abilities and offer a pathway to grow into independent and confident young people.

The funds we raise will cover tutors' fees, new equipment, publicity to promote what we do, and an end-of-term show that will let the children “show off” what they have learned and how talented they are. Families, friends & residents will be invited, and we hope to make it a special occasion with a festive feel for everyone.

Perhaps you will get a chance to come along and see for yourself!

We appreciate your support; giving even the smallest amount will make a huge difference.

Thank you.

Julie & PaaT