YMCA Bournemouth is taking to the skies to raise vital funds for their youth-led young people’s project Chatterboxes.

Today a team of seven will tandem sky dive at Old Sarum Airfield in Salisbury, including their executive director Jackie Weeden and councillor Chris Wakefield.

Chatterboxes is a peer-led project, supporting young people aged 18-25, who suffer from a range of disabilities.

Cllr Wakefield has first-hand experience of the challenges families face when a loved one has autism.

He said: "I was delighted to be asked to take part in this fundraising activity for Chatterboxes. They are a fantastic group of young people doing amazing things, despite their own disability."

Joely, who has Aspergers, said: "The Chatterboxes have improved my life and enabled my autism disability to blossom; by giving me opportunities to achieve my dreams and realise my disability gifts. Thanks to the Chatterboxes I am now a multi-award winning autism activist and a second place finalist for the worldwide ANCA Autism Awards. I wouldn't be in a position of happiness without the Chatterboxes; volunteering remains the best decision of my life."

The adventurous sky dive follows another recent campaign, run by the YMCA, which aims to give young people a voice in society.

The Give a Voice YMCA project was coordinated by the World Alliance of YMCAs and YMCA England, and marked a historic moment for the Christian group.

Ms Weeden said: "YMCA is proud of its history and heritage and marking our Founder's Day in this way this year is a wonderful opportunity to do just that while also looking forward to the future.

"A big part of what we do at YMCA is to help young people rebuild their lives and make positive changes for the better. This can only be done by giving them both holistic support and greater confidence to speak out on the issues that matter most to them.”