A story contributed by Roger, a member of a Parkinson’s Support Group who took part in our Homemade Circus project, delivered in partnership with Parkinson’s UK to bring circus skills to people living with Parkinson’s. Here, he describes the change Homemade Circus brought about in him, and how the people in his support group surprised him.
When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s many years ago, my wife and I asked the doctor if there was anywhere we could go for support, but he didn’t know of anything. We looked ourselves, couldn’t find anything, and eventually our daughter found the group for us. We joined and found it very, very helpful.
One of the reasons I’ve kept coming back over the years is the friendships. The people around our table have become very good friends, and the group gives us the opportunity to do all sorts of things together. We exercise, play games, go on trips, sing together and sometimes have people come in to entertain us. It’s a really good mix of activities.
“What struck me most was how different it was from anything else we do.“
When the Homemade Circus project was introduced, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I’d never really done any circus before. I kept an open mind because I like trying new things, but I didn’t know whether it would be for me or not. Very quickly, though, I found myself really enjoying it.
The activities were fun, but they were also challenging in ways I hadn’t expected. Some things weren’t easy at all, especially the juggling. I certainly didn’t master everything, but I thoroughly enjoyed having a go. What I liked was that everyone gave things a try, regardless of their abilities.
Sometimes you take your own abilities for granted. Through the circus sessions, I found myself watching other members of the group, particularly people whose Parkinson’s affects them much more severely than mine. There are a couple of people who can hardly move at all, but when the activities started, I watched them really trying.
“Some people did things that, if I’m honest, I didn’t think they would be able to do. People surprised me.”
I saw individuals reaching further, concentrating harder and participating more actively than I expected. They seemed determined to have a go because they enjoyed it so much. Watching that happen gave me a new appreciation for what people are capable of, even when they’re living with significant challenges. I think that’s why the project has stayed with me.
The activities themselves are a form of exercise, but they don’t feel like exercise. They’re gentle, enjoyable and accessible. By the end of a session, my shoulders would often ache, which told me I’d been moving more than I realised.
For people living with Parkinson’s, staying active is incredibly important, and Homemade Circus found a way of encouraging movement without making it feel like hard work.
The impact extended beyond the sessions themselves. I enjoyed the activities so much that I bought some of the foam blocks to use at home. Keeping active has always been important to me. I use weights, resistance bands, an exercise bike, I ballroom dance and sing in a choir. The circus activities gave me another way to stay engaged and active, and something I could continue practising between sessions.
What I valued most, however, was seeing the effect it had on other people. It reminded me not to underestimate anyone. People often achieved more than I expected, and perhaps more than they expected of themselves.
The project also brought something new and fresh into the life of our group. We do lots of different activities, but Homemade Circus offered something completely different. It encouraged movement, creativity, concentration and laughter all at the same time.
I would love to see it continue.
What was the most significant change?
The most significant change for me wasn’t necessarily about what I could do, but what I saw other people do. It was seeing what happens when people are given permission to try something different without worrying about whether they’re good at it.
“I watched people who face daily challenges because of Parkinson’s discover that they could still learn, participate and achieve things.“
That reminded me that we are all capable of more than we sometimes think. That’s what I’ll remember most from Homemade Circus.
Roger volunteered for Upswing’s Homemade Circus pilot with Parkinson’s UK Stoke-on-Trent Health and community settings from Mar – Jun 2026. The feedback we received from volunteers and participants like Roger, Jeanette and Gareth, directly shaped the updates we’ve made to the Homemade Circus Digital Toolkit.
The Toolkit is a free resource that gives care staff, volunteers and support group leaders the exercises, guidance and confidence to run their own circus-inspired movement sessions, without needing any previous experience.
Photo credits: Jerome Whittingham