Help Above & Beyond Circus

Our Mission

Above & Beyond Circus is dedicated to helping people of all ages and abilities soar to new heights—both literally and figuratively. We aim to provide a safe and inclusive space for individuals to learn and experience the challenge of flying trapeze while fostering a community built on trust, encouragement, and creativity.

But we’re at a critical turning point, and we need your help to continue providing classes, workshops, and experiences that honour the legacy of our founder, Mike Wright.

What Are We Doing?

Over the past year, we’ve achieved some incredible milestones as a company:

• Performed to a packed-out tent at Glastonbury Festival, sharing the magic of flying trapeze with hundreds of people.
• Ended the summer season on a high with three sell-out flying trapeze classes.
• Successfully became a company limited by guarantee, ensuring the long-term stability and professionalism of our company.

What Is Next for Us?

Looking to the future, Above & Beyond Circus has big plans:

• High quality staff training: Without Mike it is important that we build a pool of staff who are confident in delivering our workshops, with extensive knowledge of a variety of flying trapeze skills and knowledge of safe practices, rigging & teaching
• Expanded Class Offerings: With more trained staff, we plan to expand our weekly schedule to provide a wider range of classes for all skill levels
• Community Classes: We want to build towards offering free or discounted workshops to local communities, giving everyone the opportunity to experience the joy of flying trapeze—especially those who might not otherwise have access.
• Performance Offering: We want to continue to provide performance opportunities to our team and other early career circus artists.
• Fostering circus development: As well as flying trapeze we want to continue to be a part of advancing circus training in Bristol, through workshops with guest teachers in specialist skills, equipment hire and training space for swinging.

Why Do We Need Help?

In April 2024 we lost Mike. 

He was the owner of Above and Beyond and the heart and soul of the company. Not only was he the driving force behind the company's success, he was the driving force behind the success of every individual who had the pleasure of working with him and there is a large community of circus artists who can say that they started their careers with Mike Wright. His guidance, expertise, and unwavering support has touched countless lives. He poured his life into helping others succeed and find their confidence in the air.

Without him, our progress has slowed, and we lost momentum, financial resources & a seemingly endless fountain of valuable skills, knowledge, and most importantly, kindness and friendship.

This campaign is about more than just funding—it’s about continuing Mike’s legacy. Mike dedicated his life to helping others achieve what they thought was impossible, and we’re determined to carry that  forward.

What Do We Need?

Now, we’re facing the challenge of moving forward without Mike’s expertise.

To honour his legacy and keep the company thriving, we need to raise £5,000 to fund three critical areas:

• £2,000 for Equipment: To ensure our rig remains safe and meets professional safety standards, we need to replace key components.
• £2,000 for Staff Training: To uphold our high standards, our team needs training in areas such as first aid, safeguarding and health and safety. We need to continue to train our staff in specific flying trapeze skills, so we can deliver workshops of a high quality.
• £1,000 for Operational Costs: To support the day-to-day running of the company, including marketing, outreach, and administrative expenses. Once classes are up and running, we expect to be able to cover these costs through regular business income.

Why Does It Matter?

Above & Beyond Circus is more than a company; it’s a community. Every class, every workshop, every show helps someone achieve something extraordinary.

Here are some testimonials from our workshop participants, company members and company collaborators. 

Your support ensures we can continue to provide these opportunities, build longevity for the future and give back to the community.

Join Us on This Journey

Here’s how you can help:

Donate Today: Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal.

Spread the Word: Share this campaign with your friends, family, and community.

Follow Us: Stay connected on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to see the impact of your support.

Together, we can ensure that Above & Beyond Circus continues, providing a space for joy, excellence, and community in honour of Mike Wright’s legacy.