Performer teaches care home residents circus skills

Residents in a care home got to try their hand at juggling when a circus performer paid them a visit.

Jasmin Edwards held the circus workshop at Castle Dene care home in Bournemouth, Dorset.

During the performance the residents, many of whom have dementia, took part in activities like plate-spinning.

Miss Edwards said she created the show as part of her work with the Bournemouth Arts by the Sea project, focusing on women aging in the arts.

The 32-year-old multi-hoop specialist said visiting care homes was part of a broader idea to integrate often-overlooked communities into the arts.

"We chose to do these community days in residential homes mostly because care home residents are people that don't get to experience things like that," she said.

"Some people didn't want to do it, some people did, and what I found really different in working in a residential home than, say, with children, is that children are overly confident and they pick everything up.

"What I found with the elderly is that you had to build their confidence."

Miss Edwards said she heard residents say phrases like: "I can't do this."

She hopes to hold more sessions in care homes during the winter, when her work is less busy.

"It would be absolutely amazing if other circus performers did the same thing as me and it spread," she said.

"The smiles on the residents are amazing and to have lots of people doing that would be incredible."

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