Social Circus activities at Sorin Sirkus
What is social circus?
Social circus is an impactful activity in which the circus serves as a tool for promoting the well-being of participants and developing skills that are useful to them. The activity is made accessible by taking into account the individual needs of participants on both a physical and cognitive level. Everyone may need additional resources to support their everyday life at some point in their lives, and social circus also acts as a preventive measure. Another characteristic of social circus is that the activities are brought to the participants, for example, in hospitals, schools, and service homes.
Circus as a tool for learning and supporting life
With this applied form of circus, it is possible, for example, to promote integration and language learning, strengthen a positive sense of one’s own abilities, build trust in oneself and in others, and support active agency at different stages of life. Through it´s social circus activities, Sorin Sirkus aims to prevent social exclusion and increase inclusion—that is, the individual’s experience that they and their actions matter. Other important goals include supporting the overall well-being of participants, safeguarding their resources, and bringing more moments of joy into everyday life.
Wellbeing through social circus
Sorin Sirkus brings social circus work into everyday life on a weekly basis in places such as Tampere University Hospital (TAYS), Kylmäkoski Prison and the family centres of the Tampere Mother and Child Home and Shelter Association. In addition, Sorin Sirkus organises dozens of social circus workshops every year in cooperation with various partner organisations.
The activities of social circus are aimed primarily at families, young people and children in need of support. Each year also includes several work wellbeing workshops implemented through circus methods, which are planned individually based on orders and tailored to the needs of each work community.
What Kind of Activities Do We Offer?
The YHDESSÄ (“Together”) project is a social circus initiative run by Sorin Sirkus in cooperation with the Tampere Mother and Child Home and Shelter Association, the Tampere Children’s Clinic Support Association, and the Support for Refugee Young People Association for the years 2024–2026.
The goal of the project is to support families who are at risk of crisis or who otherwise need additional support by using social circus methods. The activities help families cope, spend time together and access cultural experiences, all of which also play a preventive role against crises. Support can be provided in the form of workshops or performance activities. The activities also give families the opportunity to get to know each other and receive peer support. The project has received a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
With the support of the project, family events, Kirjava circus camps for children on the autism spectrum, and weekly baby circus sessions have been organised at the family centres of the Tampere Mother and Child Home and Shelter Association.
Experience Circus is intended for people aged 50 and over. Under professional instruction, participants practice various circus disciplines while keeping the mind active, joints mobile and sense of balance sharp. Activities are carried out in a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere and good company.
Together we develop body coordination through, for example, juggling exercises, train finger dexterity with simple magic tricks and improve stability through balance training. The sessions are designed to be flexible so that everyone can challenge themselves at a suitable level while listening to their body and working according to their own fitness and skill level. The circus experience offers participants the opportunity to get to know each other, emphasizing peer support and togetherness as important factors that support the activity!
Sorin Sirkus is happy to collaborate with municipalities in the Pirkanmaa region. One successful example of this cooperation is the family circus sessions organised in Pirkkala.
A family circus class typically lasts one hour and includes games, juggling, obstacle courses, simple acrobatic exercises done together and moments of relaxation. These sessions offer families enriching experiences while learning new skills. Family circus strengthens parent–child interaction, supports children’s motor and language development and increases parents’ confidence in engaging and playing with their child.