Skylight Circus in Education

Who we are

Skylight is a vibrant, ambitious company, passionate about creation and specialists in ‘Circus with Disability and Diversity’. Our mission is to be one of the leading providers of social circus in the UK. We deliver circus:

• As a vehicle for personal, physical, social development and wellbeing

• To provide opportunities for participants and professionals to collaborate, perform and include other artforms eg dance, drama, spectacle, film.

• To make new collaborations giving voice to communities, reaching new audiences where arts engagement is low.

Skylight is a registered charity founded in 1990 and has a fully accessible training space/studio theatre in central Rochdale, G Manchester, an ethnically diverse borough that is hugely challenged by multiple deprivations.

We have strong partnerships and are deeply embedded in communities. Skylight:  

• Provides opportunities for all ages/abilities to learn, create, perform. 

• Takes activities to diverse communities across the North and beyond (outreach)

• Brings inspiring performance and spectacle to diverse audiences 

• Develops strong social circus and creative projects

• Runs regular training (classes) for all ages/abilities (12 before lockdown)

• Provides career pathways, placements and apprenticeships 

• Improves health, well-being, mental health and confidence

• Improves skills and creativity 

• Improves inclusion, encourages acceptance and cooperation

The company is currently without revenue funding and is reliant on project funding and earned income. Fees and box office make up about a quarter of income. Many trusts and funders have been very supportive over the decades, for example, current projects include:

• Silver Circus for isolated 65+: an ongoing award-winning group, with regular live or virtual sessions, activities and events. Parallel work with dementia.  D’Oyly Carte and Henry Smith Community Challenge are funding this year 

• Spring 3 for children with disability/disadvantage, in schools, special schools and PRUs funded for the 4th year, by BBC Children in Need

• Side by Side for various groups of vulnerable children and families is funded by CCG (NHS) for the 5th year.

• Virtual Performance Project with Extraordinary Bodies as part of their ‘What am I Worth’ project. Originally a live project with the Lowry changed due to covid. EB secured more funding from the Arts Council to run virtually.

• ‘Mammoth’ ACE funded performance project with our Spotlight Troupe of young people.  Performances scheduled for April 20 were cancelled and a film has been created. Research and walk guides were funded by the  Heritage Lottery Fund.

• Henry Smith Challenge, Covid Recovery: A project targeting young people, the elderly, refugees/asylum seekers will have further activities to support them through problems caused by the pandemic until Dec 2021

• Henry Smith Charity is currently funding some Skylight running costs with their Strengthening Communities 3-year grant.

Our highly experienced team share their passion for Circus with all ages and abilities.  Staff and trustees have developed an ambitious plan to grow our work over the next 4 years.