In the UK, we bring smile support to children in hospices, hospitals, shelters and refuges, and visit food banks, disability support groups, community centres and toddler groups. We also share play and laughter with young people who are seeking asylum, to help them start to rebuild safe and happy childhoods.
Across the UK, our teams of trained play professionals and smile specialists support children who are experiencing crises or severe hardships.
Throughout the year, we work in hospices, hospitals, refuges for women and children, temporary accommodation housing children who are seeking asylum, and pupil referral units for young people who’ve been excluded from mainstream education.
During the school holidays, we put on free play workshops and circus shows at community centres, disability support groups, food banks, and toddler groups.
Over the Christmas holidays, we deliver these sessions with a seasonal twist, to make sure everyone we meet enjoys a memorable family outing at this special time of the year.
In the UK, we also deliver Sensory Circus sessions in hospices and at schools and groups for young people with disabilities.
Sensory Circus uses small, participant-led shows and play sessions, based around sensory storytelling, games and exploration, and featuring lots of one-to-one interaction between the children and our smile specialists.
This approach is all about making sure that every child gets to play, laugh and use their imagination in the ways that they like best.
Somehow you found the last gem of childhood she had and made it shine. Seeing her laugh, play and just run carefree through a field has been magical. She’s gone to bed with a beaming smile, a button grasped in her hand and a full heart. Dreams are going to be of her “The Bedroom Seagull Project” where she plans to master storytelling, pirate antics and circus skills to keep passing on the joys of childhood.
Parent – CAFT Family Fun Fest
The majority of children and young people in our area do not get the opportunity to have new experiences such as this and therefore having the chance to be part of the show really enriches their lives.
New experiences such as these create a sense of happiness and belonging within their community
Danielle Versace – Youth and Play Coordinator, Barlow Moor Community Association
I liked the Flying Seagulls because we went to juggle with them. I liked that I got to go up and be part of the trick on the stage. It was really good fun.
M, seven – Hackney Marsh Adventure Playground
Having the Flying Seagulls Project come and perform their Laugh ‘n’ Play show at our winter event in South Acton was a genuine pleasure. It has been a tough year for everyone, and the children and young people really appreciated the chance to come together and just have fun (as did a lot of the parents and workers, who were laughing away from the sidelines). Ash and Simon showed a great professional attitude in setting up the show and a real commitment to engaging the audience. The show itself was beautifully chaotic, and all of the audience, young and old, were laughing and shouting out throughout. We really hope to have an opportunity to work with the Flying Seagull Project again and would thoroughly recommend them to everyone.
Colin Brent – Senior Youth Worker, Bollo Brook Youth Centre
We know from speaking to our children’s workers and from seeing some of the videos taken on the day that you brought a MASSIVE amount of positive energy into the refuge. The warmth and fun you brought with your session provided reassurance to the children and encouraged them to get involved, which for some of the children we support, is not an easy thing for them to do. The children all got involved and enjoyed just being children.
Hayley Powell – Senior Funder, The Haven
Seeing the happy faces and hearing the cheering and laughing brought a feeling of lightness and hope that we’ve not seen for a long time. In fact, it brought a tear to my eye. The feedback we have received from our invited audiences has been glowing: “just what we needed,” “we never get invited to anything like this … thank you.”
And I know from my personal knowledge that one of our families is moving on with their lives following the darkest of times and the Seagulls brought them some sunshine. Thank you so much. We wish you could perform for us every day. The Flying Seagulls truly make the world a better place.
Lucie Murphy – The Bridge
The Flying Seagull show was absolutely amazing, as always. The children were so excited when they heard that the show was coming back to their hotel. They have very little entertainment or recreation living in hotel accommodation for months on end, and it was such a joy to see them joining in, dancing around and trying out some circus tricks.
What I love about the Flying Seagulls, is that there are no language barriers – humour, fun and laughter are understood by all. And even the youngest or slightly shy children were happy to join in.
An added bonus was that the Flying Seagulls turned into elves at the end of the show, to help Santa Claus hand out presents to the children. Thank you so much!
Barbara Grimm – Family Liaison Lead, Care4Calais
Children who are very shy or have low self-esteem became very confident and engaged in the performance and appeared to find their voices!
Cary Lightfoot – Founder, Creative Kids UK
“The children stay in the room. You make them come out. You give them happy, fun times.”
Mother of a displaced child at one of the hotels we visited
Some of our children have never seen live performances or have never interacted with circus performers. Izzy and Beckie gave everyone a helping hand or valuable tips, bringing a great, joyful energy throughout the workshop.
Andrei Cornea – Three Corners Adventure Playground
The Flying Seagulls were amazing in keeping all children engaged and entertained. It was lovely having them at the community centre, especially during these uncertain times. Due to the pandemic it has been hard to provide our children with fun activities, but the Flying Seagulls worked hard to make it possible to keep the children entertained and engaged. This was a positive surprise. This really made them happy and made all of us appreciative.
Gradi Konga – Deputy Centre Manager, Sunshine Kidz Zone
“It was very fun having you around, it always put a smile on my face. I very much enjoyed the waistcoat designing, I hope to finish it soon.”
Patient, Simmons House
“I loved the show, especially the bit when I got to perform on stage!”
Isla, eight — participant at a SEND support group in Monmouthshire
The children enjoyed the performance, and it was great to be able to facilitate a show like this in what was such a difficult season for children. I enjoyed how fun and light the show was, specifically the interaction with the audience and adults in the room. It was easy for all children to understand and had light and fun themes throughout. The actors’ energy was what made the show, they were engaging and were able to hold such a large space.
Kate Hilton – Creative Programmes and Education Manager, Transform UK
I don’t even know how to explain the amazing impact this session had not only on the children but the grownups. The two ladies who came were out of this world at making the children feel relaxed and included.
I’ve recommended them to anyone who will listen. They went above and beyond any of our other service providers.
It was an absolute joy to have some fun and activities taking place in our atrium today after so long without — due to covid restrictions.
There were lots of giggles to be heard and smiles on faces. We’d love to welcome them back in the future.
Everyone commented on how lovely it was to hear laughter and fun going on within our atrium after such a long time without it. There were lots of happy faces from our children/families and staff!
Anne Doyle — Volunteer Manager, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
Many of the children had never seen a performance before, be that because of Covid or simply because they haven’t had the opportunity to, so it was a privilege to witness them engaging in the joy of theatre for the first time.
Hannah-Lily Lanyon – Playwork Coordinator, Awesome Adventure Play
Thank you so much for a brilliant workshop! The families we work with experience holiday hunger and fewer opportunities to access activities for the children to participate in. It was a joy to see them all laughing and having fun both during the performance and then playing with the circus equipment afterwards. There was a real sense of achievement when they cracked how to spin a plate.
Mim Taylor – Coordinator, MakeLunch
Love The Flying Seagull Project and Inclusion Ventures, so lucky to have this on our doorstep for free to keep the kids entertained and active and making memories. Thank you guys.
Claire – resident, Jaywick
The Flying Seagull circus was an outstanding opportunity for the children. This was one many of the children would not have the opportunity to be a part of in their everyday lives. Families here cannot afford cultural experiences such these every day or do not often venture out of the locality to seek such experiences.
Many wouldn’t get the chance to visit a circus or similar entertainment activity … One child said “this was the best thing that has ever happened in my life.”
Lydia Gandaa – Director, Bubble & Squeak
Really amazing fun for all the family. In our family, I don’t know who enjoyed it the most, it’s the best thing we’ve done together for a long time.
Parent – Loughborough Community Center at Max Roach
