A unique project that combines circus skills and research to build community engagement and address healthcare inequalities has soared to new heights by winning a national award.
The Circus Project, run by the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) Research team at the James Paget University Hospital, scooped the Clinical Research Nursing award at the Nursing Times Awards 2026 on 29 October.
The collaboration with the Oak Circus Centre in Norwich, with funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) , was also shortlisted for the Dame Elizabeth Anionwu Award for Inclusivity in Nursing and Midwifery.
The project has been running since January 2025 with attendees at juggling, trapeze and tumbling workshops being asked to share their health priorities and their expectations for care when unwell. It has reached multiple diverse groups to help better understand the healthcare and research priorities of our communities, including various ages, ethnic minorities and individuals with special educational needs.
The judging panel said: “The Circus Project was a wonderfully innovative, nurse-led initiative aligned with UK policy. It demonstrates strong nursing leadership, using a fun approach to build trust and engagement with underserved populations. The judges were impressed by the direct impact the project has had within the community, which demonstrates real excellence in clinical research nursing innovation.”
Claire Whitehouse, Clinical Director for Research and Development and Senior Nurse for NMAHP Research at JPUH, who led the project, said: “We are delighted and over the moon with winning this award – particularly when we saw the extremely high calibre entries for these awards. Reducing health inequalities and improving access to care and research is at the core of what we do so to receive an award for something this close to our hearts is a very proud moment. Working closely with the circus and performing arts community has been key to this project, so thank you to Oak Circus Centre for the continued collaboration and for trusting us with something so unique.”
The CiRCUs project stands for Creative involvement in Research Collaboration to Understand opportunities through performance arts and it work continues following receipt of a second NIHR grant to expand the project.
Annabel Carberry, Head of Education and Co-Founder of Oak Circus Centre, added: “This is fabulous and so well deserved for all the hard work on the project. Our members have valued being part of the work and long may it continue. We are thrilled to bits.”
