Mental health support is not a luxury — it is a lifeline.

I am doing this skydive to raise money for Nottingham Counselling Services, an organisation that provides vital, accessible mental health support to individuals who may otherwise struggle to get the help they need. At a time when anxiety, depression, trauma, and burnout are affecting so many of us, these services quite literally save lives.

For me, this cause is deeply personal.

Growing up within an ethnic minority community, mental health was rarely talked about openly. Struggles were often minimised, misunderstood, or silenced. Seeking help was sometimes seen as weakness, shameful, or something to be endured quietly. Too many people suffer in silence — not because they don’t need support, but because they don’t feel allowed to ask for it.

I have seen first-hand how stigma around mental health disproportionately affects people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Cultural expectations, fear of judgement, lack of representation, and limited access to culturally sensitive services all act as barriers. The result is that many people reach breaking point before they ever receive help — if they receive it at all.

That is why I am passionate about tackling the taboo surrounding mental health, especially within ethnic minority communities.

Nottingham Counselling Services plays a crucial role in creating safe, supportive, and inclusive spaces where people can be heard, understood, and supported without judgement. By fundraising for them, I hope to contribute — even in a small way — to a future where mental health support is normalised, accessible, and available to everyone, regardless of background.

This skydive represents stepping outside my comfort zone for a cause that truly matters. It’s about courage — not just the jump itself, but the courage it takes to speak openly about mental health, to ask for help, and to challenge long-standing stigmas.

If you’re able to donate, you are not just supporting a skydive — you are supporting conversations, healing, and hope. You are helping ensure that more people can access the mental health support they deserve.

Thank you for reading, for supporting, and for helping make mental health something we talk about — openly, honestly, and without shame.