Build bridges with circus skills

Pick up some trapeze skills as part of the Bridge to the Future project.

A four week project, due to launch next month, is offering eight young people from within Rochdale the chance to learn some life and work skills while having some fun with trapezes and stilts.

The Bridge to the Future project, which is being run by Skylight Circus Arts in association Connexions, aims to get young people moving, talking and learning using the challenging and exiting medium of circus arts.

Martine Bradford, one of Skylight’s experienced tutors and Project Coordinators, said: “This project will offer young people who might have become stuck in bit of a rut a fresh challenge and the opportunity to learn aerial and circus skills that are currently all over the TV.

"We’ll be teaching skills in a supportive atmosphere, including bouncing on specialised stilts and hanging from trapezes! Young people will be able build new friendships, gain confidence and be signposted to places that could offer them employment or further training. We hope to inspire positive thinking and get these young people their lust for life back."

Skylight Circus Arts are based at the Broadwater Centre in Rochdale town centre and have been delivering circus training in the North West region for 20 years. Connexions spotted the unique way Skylight can work with young people to improve physical health and overall well being and awarded a grant of £5000 to run the Bridge to The Future project.

Applications are now open to participants who must be from one of the four Rochdale Townships, aged between 16–18 years old and not in education, training or employment.

The project is free and will include a free bus pass and food.

For more information about the project and how to apply contact Skylight Circus Arts:

01706 650676

office@skylightcircusarts.com