Kathryn facing her fears by skydiving for rough sleeping

Captain Kathryn Stowers is afraid of heights and scared of flying - so what better way to celebrate a landmark birthday than jumping out of an aeroplane. 

Securely strapped to a qualified instructor for her tandem jump at Swansea Airfield this weekend, The Salvation Army’s Ecumenical Officer for Wales is fundraising for the church and charity’s homelessness outreach service in Newport. The aim is to fund a permanent charging station where people forced to sleep outdoors can charge mobile devices.

Kathryn, who recently turned 50, believes having a working mobile device is no longer a luxury and is vital for people experiencing homelessness to keep in touch with friends or loved ones and the agencies supporting them.  

She said: “I’ve spoken to many people who have had to sleep on the streets because they have no permanent home and the difficulty of keeping a phone charged is a serious problem. Without a phone, people can’t access important benefits, reach support workers or access medical services for example. We know that simply not being able to charge a phone is a barrier to moving on from street homelessness.”

Also jumping that day at Swansea airfield will be Margaret Thomas, from The Salvation Army at Risca, and Nathaniel Hunt, from the church at Morriston, who were inspired by the bravery of their colleague. These first-time skydivers all hope their jumps will raise money to help their communities.  

Zoë Mathias, Outreach Programme Manager for The Salvation Army, said: "We are beyond excited and proud that our colleague Kathryn is doing a sky dive and immensely grateful that any funds raised will be given to the Open Door Project. We are an assertive outreach programme working with rough sleepers from across Newport.

"Being able to use the fundraising money to purchase a mobile phone charging bank will make a huge difference to the homeless people who visit our drop-in service. Having a mobile phone is essential in this day and age and it makes a huge difference to our clients when they are trying to manage appointments with housing, health, and DWP. It can also be a lifeline between the clients and their support systems which can promote positive mental wellbeing and motivation towards change."

Kathryn added: “I don't feel 50, so I decided to mark it by doing something that, if I’m honest, terrifies me. I’m scared of heights and afraid of flying, so this really will be a test. But I’m up for the challenge.”

To donate, visit The Salvation Army’s fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/page/kathryn-stowers-salvation-army