Kate ‘jumps’ at the chance to help MAPS

In January, I will be reach my half-century and in celebration I am aiming to complete 50 ‘firsts’ during 2014. However, the biggest ‘FIRST’ – and a major challenge for me – will be jumping out of a plane in a tandem skydive.

I am absolutely terrified of heights, and I’ve never done anything like this before, but, I think I should face my fear and jump out of a plane... and at the same time I am doing it for a great cause!

I am raising money to support MAPS, a local project based in Sutton, who support vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. These young people are far less fortunate than most of us. I will be doing a tandem skydive (and Brad is doing it too!) in the Spring of this year, and I am asking everyone to sponsor me – PLEASE.

MAPS provide a handpicked volunteer mentor to support a young person every week for one year.. The money raised will mean that MAPS can put on exciting events that young people and their mentors can attend, giving the young person the opportunity to go places they have never been, try new skills they didn’t know they had, and to have opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access.

Please support me in my Skydive by donating to this amazing cause.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they will never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, JustGiving sends your money directly to the charity. It is the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

 

Here is a little more info on the Charity I hope to help.

 

MAPS are the mentoring wing of Volunteer Centre Sutton – an early intervention programme working with some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people in Sutton. These young people have a variety of complex life circumstances such as poverty, neglect, abuse, bereavement, domestic violence, parental mental health issues and addiction.

 

The effects are far reaching and can impact a young person in a variety of ways from social exclusion to low self esteem, from mental health issues to poor attendance and educational attainment.

 

MAPS provides young people with a one-to-one volunteer mentor who is carefully selected to support the young person for 12 months. Meeting each week, mentors help young people to recognise their worth, develop confidence, raise their aspirations and motivate and encourage them to enjoy life.

 

To support our mentoring relationships MAPS looks for exciting opportunities that enable our young people to access new experiences to broaden their horizons, be challenged, learn new skills and develop positive peer relationships. Activities are designed to support young people to develop a variety of skills, such as teamwork, leadership, communication and practical skills that they can use to reach their full potential.

 

Below are a few activities I would like to fund. And depending on how much I can raise, depends on what MAPS can do for these young people.

 

·        £400 – will fund an afternoon of bowling, with snacks

·        £850 – pays for a day at the farm, including travel and lunch

·        £1,500 – means a day at High Ashurst outdoor activities centre with travel and food included

·        £1,800 – will take these youngsters to Thorpe Park for the day - with food and travel

·        £3,300 – could mean a go karting trip to London with food and travel include

·        There are a few other things that MAPS can organise too, so lets see how I get on!!

 

 

For more info on MAPS: www.vcsutton.org.uk/about/mentoring-and-peer-supports