Project title
Description of initiative
‘Wires Crossed – Mind Your Balance’ is the 3rd phase in the development of an innovative educational programme designed to promote positive physical and mental well-being and social inclusion through the art of funambulism (tightwire walking with a balancing pole). This inclusive programme aims to empower young people from all walks of life to improve their wellbeing; support them to build social, personal and life skills; increase empathy for themselves and others; become active members of society; feel more connected to their peers both locally and across Europe; and promote inter-cultural dialogue, tolerance and diversity. ‘Wires Crossed – Mind Your Balance’ is a training-for-trainers programme in using funambulism to reach, engage and support young people with mental health difficulties. The project came from the need to address the youth mental health crisis across Europe by providing an inclusive, safe and engaging outlet for young people to take part in physical and creative activities that enhance their wellbeing.
The project aimed to:
• address the need to increase the number of youth educators equipped to work with vulnerable young people
• develop skills and competences of youth circus educators in the field of youth mental health
• promote funambulism and circus arts as innovative educational tools to support the personal and social development of vulnerable young people
• develop high-quality methodologies for using funambulism as a way to support and increase wellbeing in young people, and for these to be widely-used across the European youth and social circus sector and beyond
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
Keywords
Target group
Cultural field
Budget
Timeframe
Sources of funding
Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
Estimated results (no final evaluation available):
- long-term positive impacts on each of the participant groups, the project partners and the European Youth and Social Circus sector:
YOUTH PARTICIPANTS will be offered new ways of improving their physical and mental health and wellbeing in an informal and creative setting, which will support their personal and social development
YOUTH CIRCUS EDUCATORS will develop high-quality skills and competences (particularly in working with vulnerable young people) which will increase their employability
YOUTH CIRCUS ORGANISATIONS will improve their youth work through the sharing of best practice, knowledge and innovative ideas, and develop their international and cross-sectoral co-operation
THE EUROPEAN YOUTH CIRCUS SECTOR will receive a well developed and tested methodology for funambulism training and how to deliver this in the context of youth mental health. They will benefit from trained and experienced teachers with international experience.
‘Wires Crossed – Mind Your Balance’ is the 3rd phase of bigger international funambulism project called ‘Wires Crossed,’ which is being produced by Galway Community Circus and their partners as one of the flagship projects of the European Capital of Culture Galway 2020 (ECOC).