This week’s #madeinsandwell Monday star is Spinsonic Circus Academy, a social enterprise based in Oldbury.

Rachel Conlisk [pictured] founded Spinsonic in 2013, travelling across the UK to give hula hoop workshops and performances, as well as manufacturing bespoke hula hoops for children and adults.

In 2017 she added ground circus skills to her workshops and Spinsonic now offers sessions in plate spinning, juggling, slacklining, diablo, stilt walking, balance boards and poi spinning, a performance art involving tethered weights which originated in New Zealand.

The company specialises in delivering inclusive workshops for adults and children with specialist needs, including people who are new arrivals in the country and people with hearing and visual impairments, learning disabilities and autism.

Rachel and her team of professional entertainers have worked with Sandwell Adult Services, Birmingham Disability Sport, Beacon Centre for the Blind, MENCAP, Birmingham MIND and the Deaf Cultural Association as well as groups of brownies and girl guides, scouts and cubs, schools and corporate teams.

Spinsonic also runs family circus clubs across the West Midlands and provides entertainment areas at festivals and community events such as fun runs. Rachel even got to spin her hoop on live television for Children in Need.

Rachel puts the company’s success down to enthusiasm and a strong sense of fun. “We’re really passionate about what we do,” she said, “bringing circus into the community and making it accessible to all. Hula hooping is not only a great way to keep fit, people can learn together and from each other. The best bit of my job is seeing the change in people – they come in tired and stressed and go away energised and grinning from ear to ear”.

Spinsonic’s latest achievement is acceptance onto the ‘Do It’ programme run by social enterprise support organisation Unltd. With support from UnLtd advisers, Spinsonic will become registered as a CIC (Community Interest Company) and acquire the tools it needs to scale up.

“I am thrilled to be supported by UnLtd, and excited for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as I grow the business,” Rachel told us.

#madeinsandwell Monday is a celebration of the talent and diversity of organisations within our borough. If you’re interested in being considered for a #madeinsandwell Monday profile and having your organisation’s success story shared on Think Sandwell and through our social media networks, read this.