WE CHANGE LIVES THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS.

The mission of Performers Without Borders (PWB) is to improve the physical, social and mental well-being of children and young people through teaching circus skills and performing arts. Particularly those who have had a challenging start in life. This takes place nationally and internationally on projects around the world in order to contribute to them gaining a more positive outlook and a better quality of life, physically, socially and mentally.

Partaking in a physical activity at a young age has been shown to be a great indicator of future mental and physical health and academic achievement, so our work can be an important early intervention with long-lasting and broad-ranging benefits for a wide range of vulnerable young people (see Our Impact for more).

Extended Circus Arts Instruction (CAI) with a social focus has been shown to have significant benefits and lasting impacts on physical and mental well-being for disadvantaged young people across the world, in PWB’s own 15 years of international projects and from many others.

This is based on a growing body of research expounding the benefits of learning circus skills and putting on performances.

Circus arts have been shown to improve physical and mental well being as well as promote confidence, team skills, self-esteem, mindfulness and socialising. It is more accessible and inclusive than many traditional sports, including for young people with complex and additional needs.

Early engagement in physical activity has also been shown to improve academic achievement and the likelihood of doing physical activity in later life, which has additional long-term benefits.

Please see our: Blackburn and Swiss Cottage Evaluation Report page for our latest PWB-UK research and evaluation projects.

You can also learn and raise money for PWB by using:

this referral link with our sponsorship partners, Learned.Live.