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Clowning About with Romsey Young Carers
Monday, 18 August 2008 00:00

Twenty five members from Romsey Young Carers Project were invited to Roke Manor Research on the 1st August for a very special event. The children had the chance to learn a range of new skills with five of Roke’s Directors in a Circus Workshop.

The group spent the morning spinning plates, walking on tightropes, juggling balls and riding unicycles before performing live to a crowd of 200 Roke employees. The show was produced in the format of a race night where the audience were encouraged to place bets on the Directors whom they thought would perform best in each of five different "feats".

Dr David Smith, Managing Director of Roke, hands over a cheque for £4,000 to Mary Ward of Romsey Young Carers' Project.
Dr David Smith, Managing Director of Roke, hands over a cheque for £4,000 to Mary Ward of Romsey Young Carers' Project.
The event made a real impact on several levels. Most important of all, the children developed some new talents and had a great time being entertained by the Directors. The staff got the rare opportunity to see their Directors playing the fool and generously donated over £550 in the process which brings the total fund raised by Roke this year to well over £3500!

The Circus Workshop was organised as part of Roke’s ongoing support of Romsey Young Carer’s Project (RYCP) as their charity of the year. The charity itself is a project centred on Romsey and Southern Test Valley which helps children and young persons under 18 who care within their own families. They currently support 36 young carers with their youngest child being 5, and their oldest 16.

Roke's employees have been organising a variety of activities to support the charity, ranging from bingo and sweepstake events, through to cake sales, sponsored activities and days out for the young carers. Roke’s Summer Festival, attended by 50 members from the charity in June, is one of this year’s highlights.

The company has pledged to match whatever funds are raised by its employees and the total pot now stands at over £7,000.

David Smith, Managing Director of Roke, handed over a cheque for £4000 to Mary Ward and a selection of the young carers from RYCP at the Circus Workshop.

Feedback from one of the young carers captured the sentiments of the day beautifully

"I went to a circus event a long time ago with Romsey Young Carers but this was so much better because they had proper kit like real unicycles and a tight rope".

For more information on RYCP please contact Mary Ward on 01794 515126.