On Saturday 2nd October I will be visiting St Stephens shopping centre in Hull. However shopping will be the last thing on my mind – I’ll be dangling from the roof of the Holiday Inn Express on a bit of rope.

As I plunge towards the pavement 40m below I’m hoping I will have the time to reflect on why I agreed to abseil down the side of one of Hull’s tallest buildings.

1. The view from the top was spectacular.

2. I didn’t have to spend months in training to achieve something worthwhile.

3. I will have raised money for CASE, a local charity that supports people with learning disabilities by providing training and lifeskills.

CASE Training is the only independent charity in Hull and East Yorkshire that is dedicated to improving the lives of people with a learning disability. Through its social enterprise CASEWORKS, CASE provides meaningful and effective training and real-world work experience opportunities. In addition to their learning disability, many CASE trainees suffer from multiple disadvantages. Through CASE they not only gain work-based skills and vocational qualifications, but trainees also develop independence skills, hugely enhancing their quality of life and future prospects.

CASE is celebrating its 25th anniversary year in 2010. As always it is difficult for small independent charities to raise adequate sustainable funding. The sum of £40 supports a CASE trainee for a day.

I’m hoping to raise a modest £200 for CASE. I appreciate any donation you can make, and even just a couple of quid will help!

P.S. For a better idea of what I’m letting myself in for there’s a bigger version of that photo to the left on my flickr photostream.