Skydive to fund much-needed Black Country domestic violence refuges

The boss of a Birmingham IT firm is jumping out of an aircraft to help Black Country Women’s Aid build ten safe houses for families fleeing domestic violence.

Neil Bayliss, 47, CEO of Hubtel IT, is doing a skydive on 21 June at Langar Airfield in Nottingham to support BCWA’s “The Key to a New Life” campaign.

BCWA’s campaign aims to raise sufficient funds to build 10 new dwellings for mothers and children fleeing domestic violence and abuse.

There is a big and growing need for these facilities. Last year BCWA was forced to turn away over two thirds of refuge requests, although the charity did offer these victim-survivors other types of support.

Joining Neil leaping out of a plane at 14,000ft will be 10 BCWA staff members and Hubtel colleagues Julian Brettle, business development manager, and Mike Leach, third-line support engineer.

Sara Ward, CEO of Black Country Women’s Aid, said: “When BCWA was first established nearly 40 years ago, it was with a refuge. Since then, our services have grown to meet local people’s needs, but refuge remains at the heart of what we do.

“These new flats will provide safe and secure spaces from where families can heal together and rebuild their lives. We know how vital it is to offer refuge. This skydive will help us do this.

“We are very grateful to Neil, Julian and Mike from Hubtel for taking this leap of faith in aid of our Key to a New Life campaign. We know the difference they will make, and we hope that they are proud to support us.”

Neil said: “The terror I feel when I think about doing this is brought into sharp perspective by the reason we’re doing it. Domestic abuse affects so many people, and unlike our sky-dive, it takes place behind closed doors when no-one else is looking.

“BCWA’s work to highlight it and help victims is critical. Leaping from a plane is the least we can do to support them.”

Hubtel IT is BCWA’s IT and cyber security solution partner, working 24/7 to keep the organisation’s systems and data protected from online threats.

Neil added: “While it may seem incongruous to even mention what Hubtel IT does in the same sentence as the life-saving work of BCWA, cyber-security is critical to BCWA’s ability to operate.

“Our services ensure BCWA can deliver its vital help to people who most need it in a cyber-safe environment - and, as highlighted by recent high-profile cyber incidents, that’s never been more important.”

Pictured (L-R): Katie Newall (BCWA); Anna Fowler (BCWA); Marie Gauntlett (Hubtel); Sara Ward (BCWA) and Neil Bayliss (Hubtel)