Overview
The Children In Need Grant enabled Belfast Community Circus School (BCCS) to commit to the delivery of long term circus programmes in areas of severe socio-economic deprivation, namely Suffolk, Ardoyne and Cregagh, and also to deliver a long term programme to a class with special and additional needs from Belfast Metropolitan College.
Having worked with the Ardoyne Youth Club previously, we linked them up with a Youth Club from the Cregagh area, which would be considered as coming from the “other side” of town. These young people, although wary of each other at first, began slowly to communicate to each other. This was not always a positive thing however, and we had to be very vigilant that any attempt at derision when someone from the other group failed to achieve a particular task or skill. Over the course of the last 12 months working together, the two groups have progressed not only their own circus skills, but have learnt the process of failing to achieve. In addition, they have learnt not only to support their peers to have another go, but they have also begun to support the young people from the other club, and the shared experience of performing in a part of the city separate to both of them provided a great levelling experience.
Lead Creatives
Trainers from Belfast Community Circus School
Collaborating Organisations
Ardoyne Youth Club
Cregagh Youth Club
Participating or Target Group(s)
Cross Community, Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist, Catholic, Nationalist and Republican
Funders
Children in Need
Key Aims and Rationale
These types of programmes allowed the young people the opportunity to develop their abilities, and for us to really see their progress in the areas of resilience, their ability to listen and follow instructions and their self-esteem through performance.
Key Peace-Related Issues
Cultural Recognition
Key Information
Lead OrganisationBelfast Community Circus School (Circusful)
01/06/2018
01/01/2020
Locations
Belfast
Online Resources
