Four staff members from a Wiltshire funeral home have completed a skydive.

The team from Co-op Funeralcare Royal Wootton Bassett—Neil Turnbull, 61, Martin Woods, 61, Rachel Pahlavan, 40, and Rebecca Rixon, 35—did the jump to raise funds for children's charity Barnardo's.

Eager to make a difference, they saw this sky-high challenge as the perfect way to raise much-needed funds as part of Co-op Funeralcare’s Big Charity Week.

They received overwhelming support from family, friends, and the community.

This support helped them raise £1,786 for Barnardo’s.

On the day of the jump, the group shared camaraderie, laughter, and excitement, overcoming their initial nerves.

Ms Rixon, the first to land, cheered on her colleagues as they completed their jumps.

The funeral arranger at Co-op Funeralcare Royal Wootton Bassett, said: "The skydive was an experience we’ll never forget.

"Our instructors made it even more special by showing us the incredible views and even demonstrating some aerial tricks – although not everyone was a fan of that part."

She added: "The four of us have a real drive to help children, as we are all parents ourselves, and we know how vital support can be for young people in need.

"We're incredibly proud of the amount we raised and hope that these funds will give children the chance to thrive."

The fundraiser is part of Co-op’s charity partnership with Barnardo’s.

The quartet braved the heights for a skydiveThe quartet braved the heights for a skydive (Image: Co-op)

Through the partnership, they aim to raise £5 million to support 750,000 young people across the UK with their current and future needs.

This includes helping young people and their families with basic needs like access to food, mental well-being support, and opportunities for the future.

Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer cooperatives, with interests across food, funerals, insurance, and legal services.

Millions of UK consumers own it and operates almost 2,400 food stores, and more than 800 funeral homes, and provides products to at least 6,000 other stores, including those run by independent cooperative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited.

The Co-op employs 56,000 people and has an annual turnover of over £11 billion.

It is a recognised leader for its social goals and community-led programmes.

The Co-op exists to meet members’ needs and stand up for the things they believe in.

For more information about Co-op Funeralcare Royal Wootton Bassett, visit the Co-op website.

More details about the charity initiative can also be found there.

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