Community Circus Paisley
14 Oct 2025
- Glasgow and Strathclyde
- Impact
- Arts
Community Circus Paisley (CCP) was founded in 2021, aiming to provide a permanent, community-owned home for the Scottish circus community — including a circus school and a development and performance venue.
CCP believes in an Asset Based Community Development approach that puts community members at the heart of everything they do — focusing on what’s strong, rather than what’s wrong. Their mission is to provide access to space and powerful tools for self-empowerment and expression, including world-class training in circus arts.
Through investment and the Ambitions Programme, SIS supported CCP with investment for the purchase of their property and the installation of full-scale flying trapeze equipment - the only one of its kind in Scotland.
With this support, Community Circus Paisley was able to open its doors, welcoming both the local and wider circus communities. The organisation has since delivered a range of impactful activities, including:
- Funded places for young people and adults from the Ferguslie Park community
- Outreach programmes for people with dementia and for additional support needs services in schools
- Professional training using Scotland’s only full-scale flying trapeze equipment
By providing space, skills, and opportunity, Community Circus Paisley continues to strengthen its community from the ground up - empowering people to discover confidence, creativity, and connection through the art of circus.
"The funding has been instrumental because it allowed us to buy this building, and without it, we would not have any of this at all. It’s not just the funding, but actually all the support we’ve had from SIS. It’s been incredible."
Shirley Alexander
Co-founder