Kick, flip and drum your way back to work

Areas covered: Truro & Falmouth DISADVANTAGED young people in Truro and Falmouth will be given the chance to improve confidence, communication and fitness through an exciting Brazilian art form next month (March) thanks to a Cornish social enterprise.

Jinga Communities, a not-for-profit organisation, was awarded £12,000 this month (February) to deliver free courses in capoeira, the martial art/dance made famous by the BBC1 red idents. The 6-week courses will help unemployed 16-25-year-olds boost their self esteem and relationship-building skills to help them to return to training and work.

Capoeira is an excellent tool for rebuilding confidence in individuals,’ said Jinga Communities founding director and instructor Craig Blackburn. ‘In order to take part in this unique art form, participants have to develop relationships with others, not just verbally but also through movement and rhythm. ‘Capoeira’s unique blend of partner-based movement and percussive music builds self esteem, motivation, communication skills and fitness.’

The Jinga 16-25 course consists of acrobatics, martial arts, breakdance steps, percussion instruments and singing in Brazilian Portuguese. Participants will also learn about the culture of Brazil and the country’s Afro-European roots. The course will start at Falmouth’s Dracaena Centre on March 1st and run for 6 weeks. Participants will attend the course for 2½ hours each week. Dracaena Centre manager Richard May said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Jinga

Communities as this offers a fantastic opportunity for people in this area to improve their lifestyle by taking part in this unique activity.’ The same course will start at Truro Library’s Community Rooms – which has just undergone its £1.4m refurbishment - on March 5th. The course will then be rolled out in up to four other locations in Cornwall from May to July. So far, it is expected to run in Newquay, St Austell and the Camborne/Pool/Redruth area. Details will be announced shortly.

Editors Notes: Jinga Communities is working with Connexions, Young People’s centres, housing organisations, job centres, youth offender teams, the drug & alcohol service and young parent groups to promote this course to young people.

Jinga Communities received the funds from the Community Grants Program on February 1, which is funded by the Learning Skills Council and the European Social Fund. Course details: • Falmouth Dracaena Centre - Mondays 1:30-4pm - Start date: March 1st • Truro Library Rooms - Fridays 1:30-4pm - Start date: March 5th • Sessions will be 2.5 hours per week across 6 weeks. • A maximum of 10 participants on each course • To be eligible, participants must be over 16yrs and unemployed and not undergoing any other LSC-funded training. About Jinga Communities

Jinga Communities exists to improve the lives young people in Cornwall and the South West through the Brazilian art of Capoeira. Its instructors deliver capoeira to all ages through school and community-based projects and paid-for workshops across the South West. Its students also perform at community events such as carnivals and festivals.

Jinga Communities is a Community Interest Company (CIC) - a form of social enterprise - which means that it is focused on improving the communities within which its stakeholders live, work and play. For more info on capoeira and Jinga Communities visit: www.jinga.org.uk Contact: Craig Blackburn Director, Jinga Communities CIC 07870 167 974 info@jinga.org.uk This project is funded by the Learning Skills Council and the European Social Fund and provided by Jinga Communities.