23000 circus smiles this year

Hi Circus family and friends,

As the year wraps up, I’ve finally had a quiet moment to think about what this year at Roundabout has really been.

As our first full year in our new studio, It’s been big, busy, and genuinely beautiful. And it is all made possible by a lot of people showing up. Again and again. With care, energy and belief in what circus can do.

This year our Roundabout Circus team delivered more than 500 circus events and classes across the Central Coast. From backyards and school halls to theatres, community parks, studios and aged care settings. Circus showed up in many ways, but always with the same purpose. To unlock personal and creative potential and deliver social inclusion through circus arts. Our team has created a space where people can try, learn, grow and thrive. Here’s what that looked like on the ground:

• 40 weekly classes with over 200 students - growing our circus family every week
• 29 Birthday Parties, full of confidence-building and joy.
• Over 150 private lessons, supporting students to smash their goals
• 70 School Holiday camps and programs for kids and adults
• Nearly 90 school sports sessions, OSHC and education programs, bringing circus into learning spaces in a way that is active, inclusive and engaging
• A special mention to our new partnership with Central Coast Steiner school with 2 weekly classes and their aerial rigging that they installed to make flight possible!
• Event entertainment at approximately 70 community and council events, including festivals, movie nights, Fire & Flow, SPIRAL Coast and free, open-access circus experiences
• Around 28 shows, celebrating creativity and courage through self expression
• More than 25 inclusive, disability and aged-care programs, ensuring circus remains a place where everyone belongs

Plus we also launched our new website, revamped our gardens, rebranded our newsletter, upgraded signage, onboarded 6 new team members, 3 new board members and released our manifesto into the world. And Andy and I had a baby. Thank goodness he lives up to his name - Zen ;)

Every circus experience equals a Smile to us. Bringing joy, curiosity and creativity is what we strive for. This year, our Board officially adopted “Delivering more smiles” as a strategic measure. In 2024 we created 16,000 Smiles. In 2025, we reached over 23,000 smiles across the Coast and beyond. Wow! We have set a target of 50,000 smiles annually by 2030. It feels possible.

What your support made possible

Over the past twelve months, our community has shown up in generous and practical ways.

Through events like our Mad Hatter Tea and Circus, ALIAS Cabaret, Brain Freeze Trivia Night, troupe fundraising, bunnings BBQ & cake stall and our Annual Giving campaign, you helped raise over $7000.

Because of that support, we’ve been able to:

• Keep programs open to students who need extra support
• Invest in equipment and safety checks
• Continue building inclusive spaces for people of all ages and abilities
• Support our Performance Troupe to get to the Canberra Circus Festival

Thank you to our Team, volunteers, partners, the Board, sponsors and supporters across the Coast, including Marshy’s Munchies, BrewsN Cruise, Alicia Clownzalez, Duo AussieBela , Erina Rotary club, Bunnings, and others who quietly make things happen behind the scenes - Thank you for believing in us and supporting our community.

A special thank you to Chris Foy , who generously created our brand video and captured the spirit of Roundabout so beautifully.

Our people

Roundabout exists because of our coaches and the culture our team has created. They show up every day. They show up, adapt, support each other and our students and hold things steady when the year gets heavy.

This year included illness, maternity leave and more grief than we ever expected. Each time, our team has stepped in and supported one other with care and trust. That generosity runs deep, and Andy and I feel it personally, especially through the juggling act of parenting and work. We feel very blessed and grateful for the kindness, resilience and generosity within this community.

Thank you also to our students, who keep showing up, trying new things, pitching in, supporting each other, and reminding us daily why this work matters.

Looking ahead

In January, Roundabout Circus turns 9. That feels significant. We have grown and changed a lot since we started and we have some new exciting programs and projects for 2026.

Our focus remains the same. Creating safe, welcoming spaces. Supporting creativity and confidence. Helping people discover what they are capable of, often before they realise it themselves.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Roundabout this year. By attending classes and events, volunteering, donating, sharing, cheering from the sidelines, or trusting us with your kids and learning to trust yourselves.

We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.

Yours in circus,

Rachel, Andy, and the Roundabout Circus team