Women escape domestic violence and say 'thank you' with a skydive

Two women who escaped domestic violence have done a skydive to raise money for the Devizes-based housing association that helped them get back on their feet.

Last year, Kelly Walsh, 30, and Amy West, 25, spent six months with their children at a safe house run by Ridgeway Community Housing Association to get away from their violent partners.

On Sunday, the two women jumped from an aeroplane at 12,000 feet at South Cerney airfield near Cirencester in Gloucestershire to raise more than £800 for Ridgeway’s two safe houses in Wiltshire.

With practical help and support from Ridgeway’s housing support and child support workers, both women have been able to begin new lives with their children and regain their confidence. Kelly is now studying to become a counsellor so that she can help other women through her experience.

Kelly Walsh said: “It’s been my dream for a long time to skydive. I knew that Ridgeway was looking for fundraising ideas and this just appealed. My support worker at Ridgeway was my saviour and skydiving to raise money was my way of saying ‘thank you’. I felt like Superwoman when I leapt from the plane”.

Ridgeway runs two safe houses to give women and their children somewhere safe to stay and support to escape domestic violence. It works with other organisations, such as Community4, Women’s Aid, Victim Support and SPLITZ, to help women rebuild their lives. Support includes: daily visits from a support worker and one-to-one support sessions; activities and outings for children with an experienced child support worker; and help with housing applications, claiming benefits, registering with a GP, school or playgroup and other tasks.

Funding from individuals and organisations helps Ridgeway to provide its services. An £80,000 BBC Children in Need grant is paying for a child support worker to help put the fun back into children’s lives with activities and days out, while they live in a Ridgeway safe house or homeless hostel.