Former Childline volunteers set for 10,000ft skydive to raise funds for NSPCC Wales

Two council workers who have volunteered for Childline are preparing to take on a 10,000ft skydive to raise vital funds for NSPCC Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ann Lloyd and Tony Mayles, who work for Denbighshire County Council, have chosen to fundraise for the child protection charity and to raise awareness of its work by jumping from a plane in Whitchurch, Shropshire, on May 5. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Tony, from Abergele, who volunteered for Childline in 2007 for around six months, said he had intended to volunteer for the children’s counselling service for longer but had to move away. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “The training I received at Childline has helped me enormously with the job I have now within Denbighshire council social services. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s all about listening skills and communication. I had intended to volunteer for longer at Childline but unfortunately I was not able to, so this is a nice way of paying a bit back towards my training. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I’m really excited to do it. I am most nervous about going up in the plane for the first few hundred feet, but I think once I am up high enough to do the skydive I should be fine.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ann and Tony were at a concert by The Proclaimers in Llandudno when they dared each other to take on the charity challenge. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ann, from Prestatyn, who volunteered for Childline in North Wales in 1996, said she wanted to take part after seeing her children complete a skydive. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s on my bucket list. When my daughters did it I really regretted not doing it at the time,” explained Ann. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We chose the NSPCC because we have both done some voluntary work in the past, it’s a charity that is close to our hearts. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“When you volunteer with Childline, you realise how much the children’s counselling service and the NSPCC does and how much children rely on it as a safety net.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The NSPCC provides vital support to children across Wales through its services such as Childline, which is available 24/7. Childline delivers counselling sessions every day to children who are being abused, neglected or struggling to cope with their mental health. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Childline Prestatyn base, one of 12 across the UK, is currently recruiting for new volunteer counsellors whose role is to listen to children and young people who contact the service to speak to a trusted adult about anything that might be upsetting them. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ann and Tony have already raised more than £400 towards a target of £1,000. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Arwel Roberts, Chairman of Denbighshire County Council, has also chosen to support NSPCC Wales during his year in office. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Roberts said: “It’s a pleasure to support Tony and Ann’s stupendous effort. Very brave!” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Jessica Finnegan, Community Fundraising and Partnerships Manager at NSPCC Wales, said: “A 10,000ft skydive is not for the faint-hearted, which is why we’re so grateful to Ann and Tony for taking it on. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The money they raise will help our charity make a difference to the lives of children and young people. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Whatever’s going on in the world, children shouldn’t have to cope alone. That’s why we’re here for children.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To support Ann and Tony visit Ann Lloyd and Tony Mayles is fundraising for NSPCC (justgiving.com). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​