RESEARCH

“Social circus is a social intervention that utilizes circus training to help at-risk children positively handle their situations.” Circus Mojo Evaluation report (linked below)

Please see our Swiss Cottage Evaluation Report page for our latest research and evaluation project from our successful NSC funded project. Also see our Blackburn Community Feedback Report.

Click here for new research in the field of Physical Literacy saying that Circus Arts Instruction (CIA) in PE is better than traditional sport instruction for being engaging, effective, inclusive and reducing gender bias.

When this is linked with Public Health England’s report that engaging in physical activity at an early age improves physical and mental wellbeing as well as improving academic achievement and increasing the chances of continuing with physical activity into adult life (which has multiple benefits – see our BENEFITS page for more) then its clear that Circus Skills should be taught in all school everywhere – either instead of or alongside traditional sports lessons.

And if that wasn’t enough its just great value for money in terms of Social Return on Investement (SROI): “Focus group results indicated positive impacts for children’s mental wellbeing, socialisation skills, physical enjoyment and resilience. The SROI analysis found that for every one dollar invested, $7 of social returnmay be generated due to participation in a circus-arts program. Improvement occurred across four key areas concerning children’smental health andwell-being; stress relief, self-esteem, confidence and socialisation. Findings from this study indicate the value of investment in the performing arts, highlighting the importance the circus-arts for children’s mental health.” International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure (2019) 2:163–193

OUR RESEARCH AIMS

At PWB we aim to provide outreach programmes that use social circus to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people. Our aims in terms of research are three fold.

1. To keep abreast and act as a resource of current research on the benefits of social circus. (see links below)
2. By conducting our own monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) programme to contribute to this body of research. We currently have 3 evaluation reports available on our Evaluation page. And have listed a sample of current research that we are aware of below.
3. To gain funding to conduct our own direct research on the benefits of social circus, especially to physically, mentally or financially disadvantaged young people. If you are a funding body looking to organise some research on the benefits of teaching performance arts and circus skills to disadvantaged young people – then we would be happy to hear from you regarding any collaborations.

Click below for a link to a recent article on the inclusion benefits of teaching circus skills as part of PE in Wales (see also).

Juggling the timetable: why every school should teach circus skills in PE lessons

Public Health England gives lots of evidence why offering circus skills to young people is beneficial – we come under Promising Principle 5 – “Offering Choice and Variety” and the Mental Health benefits are also promoted by Sports England.

Also both Bolton (2004) in his PhD Thesis on “Circus and Education” and Maglio and McKinstry’s (2008) qualitative study on “Circus and Occupational Therapy” identified the following benefits:

1. Provides a fun, motivating and intrinsically reinforcing experience that requires hard work, persistence, resilience with rapid rewarding feedback.
2. Increases positive risk taking both physically and emotionally, in a safe and supported environment promoting courage.
3. Promotes physical health and body awareness through activity.
4. Enables participants to acquire a broadened skill base relating to circus as well as more generic ‘life skills’.
5. Increases self-confidence and self-efficacy and an opportunity to explore creativity and imagination.
6. Improves social connectedness, trust, cooperation, sharing, teamwork, and leadership skills within the group.
7. Provides opportunities for calming rhythmic activities, increased sensory feedback, a focus on balance, and coordination.
8. Creates a space in which participants feel a sense of belonging as well as allowing expressing self-individualisation, identity, and image.

One PWB-UK Manager (South), Jamie Moore, was a research assistant in a recent study on the benefits of teaching Poi to older people. You can see him at work in this video on a typical research day during the study: