‘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. Research shows that taking part in physical activities has psychological benefits for young people by improving their control over symptoms of anxiety and depression (World Health Organization report “Preventing suicide: A global imperative (2014) Circus is a form of physical activity provided in a non-competitive and supportive setting, making it an ideal vehicle to reach vulnerable youth. Balancing activities such as tightwire can be used as powerful mindfulness tools to develop focus, courage and confidence, and teach us how to take back control of our body and mind. The project aims 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 There participants groups for the project will be: - 12 Youth Circus Educators (3 each from Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Romania) who will take part in a Training for Trainers programme in teaching funambulism within the context of youth mental health. This will include 4 training activities (1 in each country) working with experts in funambulism, pedagogy and mental health, and the development and delivery of funambulism and wellbeing workshops for local young people. - 24 young people (12 from Ireland and 12 from Romania) who will take part in the funamulism and wellbeing workshops. These young people will come through local organisations that support young people experiencing mental health difficulties. - Non-circus based youth workers from the local organisations who have an interest in how creative activities can be used to work with vulnerable youth. They will work with the partners and be invovled in the workshops as an introduction to this concept The project will provide 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).
Our objectives for the project were to: - develop skills & competences of Youth Circus Educators in the field of youth mental health - share effective methods in reaching vulnerable young people and develop new, innovative models using funambulism - address the need to increase number of Youth Educators equipped to work with vulnerable youth through circus, and develop their skills in helping marginalised youth become more engaged and involved in society - develop funambulism as an innovative widely-used educational tool in the youth & social circus sector and beyond to support personal and social development of vulnerable young people - help Youth Circus Educators and organisations build their capacity - help the partners develop their international activities and reputation at a local, national and international level
‘WRCR–MYB’ was designed as an innovative ‘training-for-trainers’ programme in using funambulism to reach, engage and support young people with in the context of youth mental health. It came from the need to provide an inclusive, safe and engaging outlet for young people to take part in physical and creative activities that enhance their sense of wellbeing. ‘WRCR-MYB’ formed phase 3 of a larger project called ‘Wires Crossed’ led by Galway Community Circus and Ecole de Cirque de Bruxelles. Phases 1 and 2 led to development of 2 new ‘Training for Trainers’ methodologies for circus educators in how to teach funambulism at beginner and intermediate levels, and delivery of this training to tutors from 5 EU circus schools. ‘WRCR-MYB’ built on this by making this innovative training available to Youth Circus Educators from new countries, allowing them to develop the knowledge to teach funambulism in an engaging, inclusive and accessible way, and to apply this within the context of youth mental health. It also allowed them to further their competences in the field of youth and social circus, building capacity for their organisations and the sector, and increasing access to the activity for more young people across Europe in future.