A unique project that brings together circus skills and research to help address healthcare inequalities has been shortlisted for two national awards.
The Circus Project, run by the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) Research team at The James Paget University Hospital, is in the running for two Nursing Times Awards.
The initiative, which has been running since January 2025, reached multiple diverse groups to help our hospital to better understand the healthcare and research priorities of our communities.
The project has been shortlisted in the Dame Elizabeth Anionwu Award for Inclusivity in Nursing and Midwifery and the Clinical Research Nursing category in the Nursing Times Awards 2026, which takes place in the Autumn.
The Circus Project was organised by JPUH in collaboration with the Oak Circus Centre in Norwich and with funding from the NIHR East of England Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Innovation Fund.
Attendees at juggling, trapeze and tumbling workshops enabled people of various ages, ethnic minorities, and individuals with special educational needs to share their health priorities and their expectations for care when unwell.
Claire Whitehouse, Clinical Director for Research and Development and Senior Nurse for NMAHP Research at JPUH, who led the project, said its success demonstrated the importance of going out into communities to help shape health priorities and raise awareness of research happening locally.
“There is a massive circus and performing arts community in Yarmouth and Norwich and it is a hugely diverse mix of people who do circus skills to improve their physical and mental health. Co-designing research priorities and themes with the circus community has been incredibly positive. The biggest feedback we received was thanks from people who felt they were finally being listened to.”
“We are delighted to be shortlisted for the Nursing Times Awards for this project, which has also expanded into a community art exhibition. We have received a second NIHR grant to expand the project and in a few weeks, we will be bringing circus skills to a school fete for further listening events.”
Annabel Carberry, Head of Education and Co-Founder, of Oak Circus Centre, said: “This project has linked the circus and performing arts community together with the hospitals in a way which means everyone has a voice. That voice has been transferred into action and we are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award with Claire.” The CiRCUs project stands for Creative involvement in Research Collaboration to Understand opportunities through performance arts.
Claire added: “People were keen to be involved and pleased to be asked about their healthcare needs, with many expressing interest in further involvement as more work and projects develop. The impact of circus skills on health has far reaching potential for both preventing health and supporting health recovery.”