Walthamstow Youth Circus is a local group of gravity defying young people who love to fly, dance and spin through the air, on trapezes, hoops and silks. The Walthamstow Youth Circus is founded by local artist and Shunt co founder Layla Rosa whose work as a circus and theatre maker has animated many of Londons most unusual spaces and reached audiences across the globe from Bridport to Brazil. Our project aims to design, build and deliver a purpose built rig to install into a Meanwhile space, put on training sessions twice a week and a drop in session for new interested children over the weekend. Based on demand, we can look to increase sessions and invest in more equipment to support the development of our sessions.

What we'll deliver:

• Purchase, build and install a new rig for acrobatics within a new meanwhile space
• Put on 2 evening sessions a week for Circus training and acrobatics, and drop in sessions for Saturday mornings
• Help put on a program for events for next year's Waltham Forest Borough of Culture
• Work with Waltham Forest Council to help develop a purpose built space

Why it's a great idea:

Waltham Forest and particularly Walthamstow and even as wide as East London does not have any circus provision. This new space can be a The Flagship program to support Youth Circus in London and grow our next generation of performers. Our situation has become precarious after having to leave our existing space as a result of being evicted by the Landlord.

Steps to get it done:

• Scope and make safe meanwhile space for high acrobatics
• Fit out building
• Plan and publish training sessions
• Buy new circus equipment
• Create H&S Plan and Risk Assessment
• Establish Storage area for equipment
• Secure site with Alarm detection system
• Decorate space

We have the support from the Arts Council, Waltham Forest Council and the NCCA (National Centre for Circus Arts). We have the support of the local community, the st james street big local, the roundhouse trust. all our parents and our audience.