A TEAM of Bournemouth employers are proving they have a head for heights, as they prepare to abseil down their new, 100ft high office.

More than 70 staff from telecommunications provider 4Com will be descending from the top of One Landsdowne Plaza to raise up to £25,000 for Hope Housing and the Hope AOK Rucksack Appeal.

They will be joined by a number of beneficiaries from Hope's work for the abseil, which takes place from 9am on Friday, March 29.

4Com chairman Daron Hutt said: “Moving into central Bournemouth is a landmark moment for us, so we wanted to do something that would have an impact upon those in our neighbourhood. Hope Housing and the Hope AOK Rucksack Appeal team do amazing work supporting the homeless in Bournemouth; not only by providing essential items to rough sleepers, but in helping them to get off the streets, supporting them to overcome their often-complex issues, then teaching them the life skills they need to begin re-building their lives.”

The Hope AOK Rucksack Appeal was started in 2015 by Sally Harvey, who saw a growing need to supply warm, dry clothing and essentials to those on the streets of Bournemouth. In the last 12 months, more than 700 packs were given out to the homeless in Dorset.

Last year Sally retired and chose Hope Housing to run the appeal as Hope already worked closely with the homeless, providing supported housing for up to 92 homeless people.

The 4Com Foundation was established in 2014 to help organise 4Com’s charitable activities. To date they have included funding a holiday home for Amelia’s Rainbow; help with Diverse Abilities Lilypad Appeal; funds for Ashley’s Birthday Bank’s “New Start” project and last year helped the Dorset Children’s Foundation purchase new equipment.

These contributions along with several others have seen the foundation raise more than £350,000 since its inception.