Support 'The Flow Project'

Hi, we are Sai and Jess, and we’re raising funds to set up ‘The Flow Project’ in Liverpool.

The Flow Project

A not-for-profit community-focused initiative that aims to improve the wellbeing of the local population by encouraging them to play, learn, dance using fire, circus and flow arts.

We plan to keep people flowing and keep the community growing by providing free and accessible gateways into a discipline that combines the benefits of sport and art. We will create space to meet people, be active, experience something new, strengthen self-confidence and rediscover playfulness.

Why we are doing this

We are both passionate flow artists who have felt the lived benefits of fire, flow and circus arts. We’ve seen its transformative power connect people and enrich lives, plus heard countless stories (including each other’s) about how flow has helped people find a purpose or get out of a depression.

What we need money for

We are asking for money to run free sessions that will bring flow arts to the people of Liverpool, develop the local flow community and positively impact the society around us.

1. FREE INDOOR FLOW SESSIONS at the Black-E

We will set up a space at the incredibly inspiring community hub of the Black-E. The Black-E is already the centre for the Youth Circus, where we volunteer to teach children circus skills. We are looking to create a similar space for adults, something that exists in other cities but that Liverpool is lacking at the moment. We will run these sessions for free every Monday, creating a diverse and inclusive experience for participants, centred around moving, having fun, sharing knowledge and emphasising personal growth and wellbeing.

Admission to this sort of thing is usually ticketed, costing between £10-15 per person. We have decided not to ticket these events and instead keep them free and open. This is because we want to give something back to the community and offer these sessions in the spirit of gift economy. Still, we have to cover the rent to offer this amazing space, and that is why we're asking for your help.

2. FREE OUTDOOR FIRE SESSIONS

Starting with Sefton Park, we will host monthly fire sessions at outdoor locations in the city, providing a chance for flow artists to meet with local communities and inspire people to engage with the project.

Your money will cover the costs of space rental, consumables and promotion to get the word out about this work and access the people who need it most. We will provide all of the necessary equipment to start this off and create guided sessions to offer a gentle introduction to the benefits of the art.

£500 will cover the costs of running fire and flow sessions for one month

£1000 will allow us to run this for two months

£1500 will cover three months

Any donation that you can make is welcome. The Flow Project is not-for-profit, so you can be sure that all money received will go directly into the running costs. Provided we receive the initial financial support to get this off the ground, we will set this project up to be community-led. We will gather volunteers who will help us to facilitate flow sessions, manage funds, organise events, plus seek further funding for project development.

Our story

‘The Flow Project’ is a continuation of the community work started by Sai when he set up Bring The Fire Project in 2012. Approaching the art with an abundance attitude, he has been engaging communities for the last ten years by offering a chance to ‘try’ through leading fire dancing workshops and outreach initiatives such as the ‘Liverpool Fire Arts Festival '. His ethos is one of sharing, not competing. Sai has hung out with some of the most technically skilled flow artists in the community and says that it is not their level of skill that shines but their character. In the flow arts community, it matters not how ‘good’ you are, but who you are as a person

Jess joined Bring The Fire Project last year. Coming from a low-income community in Birkenhead, she saw how life struggles destroyed the mental and physical health of the adults who surrounded her while growing up. Since then, she has been motivated to do all she can to improve the health of deprived communities. She began a science career to research therapeutic remedies but found herself suffering from severe stress-related illness. Discovering flow arts in the form of fire spinning became movement medicine, working better than yoga, meditation or antidepressants. So in September, she swapped her lab job for a more pragmatic approach to her quest. If stress kills and flow heals, then the only way to save people is to give them flow.

Final note

Anyone can do flow arts, regardless of age, size, background or ability. It is inclusive, universally accessible and unbelievably fun. It opens horizons, gives people the power to deal with life’s difficulties, and expands the toolkit for achieving balance. It has the ability to get people off the streets and give them something to do to improve themselves and the society around them. Just as every city has yoga classes, meditation centres and community groups, every city should have a flow arts centre... And we want to set up one of these for free!

We hope that you will support us in achieving this. If you have any questions or would like to attend our flow or fire sessions check us out on facebook: The Flow Project

Thanks so much.

Sai and Jess