Skylight Circus bringing joy to the community

Bringing Families Together Through Circus Arts

Skylight Circus Arts believe in the power of circus to bring people together, build confidence, and create unforgettable memories. One of their recent projects, Side by Side Circus, is doing exactly that for families across Rochdale. Supported by the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, these Saturday sessions offer families a unique opportunity to learn, play, and grow together in a safe, inclusive, and creative space.

For many families, finding activities where everyone can participate and feel welcome can be a challenge. Side by Side Circus provides a supportive environment where parents, carers, and children can explore circus skills at their own pace. From juggling and balancing to aerial cocoon swings, every session is designed to be fun, engaging, and accessible to all.

Bringing Joy to Care Homes

Skylight’s current project, Silver Circus works with older people, who often don’t have opportunities to engage in the arts. By using circus skills as a tool to help people relax, achieve and work together, the project brings back smiles, self-belief, and a sense of playfulness and reconnection. Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund they recently extended some of their work into local Rochdale care homes for the elderly.

Over the course of eight weeks Skylight circus tutors, Mick and Martine were welcomed with open arms at Beechwood Lodge Care Home and Belvoir Care Home, in Rochdale. These homes support the elderly with dementia who are in residential care. Through the Silver Circus project, Skylight has been bringing circus skills into the homes, creating opportunities for residents to play, inspire creativity, and develop connections with their fellow residents.

Spinning plates and juggling were both firm favourite for some of the residents. One Belvoir Care Home resident commented: "How wonderful. I do enjoy throwing and catching those juggling balls… Wahoo!".

Fancy joining the circus?

From youth to adult classes, Skylight Circus provide a welcoming, inclusive environment where you can make friends and find new passions.

At Skylight's fully accessible building at St Chads, Rochdale, you’ll find everything from trapeze and juggling, to unicycling and aerial hoop, in a fun, social environment. Whether you’re looking to improve fitness, try something new, or find a supportive community, their classes will offer you so much more than just circus skills.

Visit skylightcircusarts.com for more information.