The Arsenal Foundation has helped to fund Mimbre Youth, a programme run by the female-led Mimbre acrobatic theatre company that offers sessions to local youngsters on Milton Garden Estate. Local youngster Kiki tells us why she loves them.
“I My name is Kiki, I’m 12 years old and I have two younger brothers. We are a very sporty family, and I have been dancing and doing gymnastics since I was two. My mum even said when I was five months old and she was changing my nappy that I starting dancing, wiggling on the changing mat to her music. Now, I train with Mimbre doing dance and acrobatics, and I’m also part of the London Youth Circus at the National Centre for Circus Arts.
“My brothers like to fight and play football. My seven-year-old brother plays football all the time, and he even plays at Hale End sometimes.
“I was six or seven when I joined Mimbre Youth. My friend was going and it was the perfect fit for me – much more fun than the gymnastics classes I’d been to before. Everyone was so friendly and now we are like family. Some of the older kids feel like my older brothers and sisters. When I started secondary school it was nice to see their faces in the corridors.
“I go once a week and we do dance, acrobatics, pyramids, juggling and circus tricks. We also go to watch lots of performances – things like Cirque du Soleil – and the adult Mimbre company come in to perform their latest shows for us too.
“I like doing dance and acrobatics the most. Sometimes we film the routines that I like on the estate we train on. I like doing that because then I can show my family how good I am and they give me extra pocket money. I usually buy sweets!
“The Mimbre Youth staff are so kind and talented. They do their own performances, which is inspiring, and sometimes they help me with any other life problems too. One of the coaches, Alvaro, is also a coach at London Youth Circus, and some of the other kids there take part in Mimbre too.
“Mimbre is special because everyone is so helpful and creative. It’s not like any other club I’ve been to. They can be strict when they need to be, but mainly we just have fun and they really help you progress. They celebrate our different talents and personalities.
“I won a scholarship for London Youth Circus from the National Centre for Circus Arts so I get to perform there too. Mimbre is also part of the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme. I love performing – I’m quite fidgety in class so this means I can be free and be myself.
“I’ve made loads of friends and gained loads of confidence around others and on stage, and I’ve learned loads of fascinating new skills. I would never have tried circus skills it if it wasn’t for Mimbre. Maybe that’s what I’ll do when I’m older.
“I support Arsenal like my uncle, and it’s my brother’s dream to play at the Arsenal Academy and be a Premier League footballer. We live round the corner from Arsenal so it’s our local team.
“I think it’s so important that clubs support their local communities. Mimbre is local to Arsenal and it’s good that the club shows it supports the youth – there are all sorts of different families and kids here, and some would never be able to do all these amazing things if it wasn’t for Mimbre. Kids love football so it’s nice to think football loves kids!”
For more information visit [mimbre.co.uk](https://mimbre.co.uk/).
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