The Circus Skills Project offered training in circus skills and stilt-walking to young people from the Catton and Mile Cross areas of Norwich.  The project focused on young people who were excluded or at risk of exclusion from school, or who are at risk of being involved in criminal or antisocial behaviour.  It resulted in the development of an ongoing, independent group of stilt walkers, the Mile Cross Masqueraders (part of the Mile Cross Carnival Group), now 24-strong, and with none of the original participants dropping out.  The Masqueraders have taken part in over 20 carnivals all over the country, and won 1st Prize at the Norwich Lord Mayor’s Street Parade in July 2006.  As part of the Mile Cross Carnival Group, they have subsequently gained touring funding from the Arts Council England.  The project was led by Pat Howe and was funded by the Local Network Fund and Norwich City Council.