Hairdressers’ 15,000ft skydive for Exeter Deaf Academy

TWO local hairdressers from Hair@The Academy are conquering their fear of heights and taking to the skies to raise money for Exeter Deaf Academy.

Claire Reeves, a hairdressing teacher and Nicky Mills, who volunteers at the salon, will both be leaping from a plane in a sponsored tandem skydive at Dunkeswell airfield, East Devon, on Wednesday 19 July.

Claire, 30, from Exeter, said she decided to raise money for Exeter Deaf Academy after working with students and seeing the opportunities they are offered there.

‘Working here, meeting the Deaf learners and seeing how they benefit from all the great work that the Deaf Academy does is what makes me want to fundraise,’ she said.

Claire decided to skydive after vowing to mark her 30th birthday, by taking up every challenge thrown at her, despite being terrified of heights. Claire said,

‘My family think I’m mad to do it, except my kids who are actually quite jealous.’

Hair@theAcademy is a training salon based at Exeter Deaf Academy, which offers Deaf young people a chance to learn a range of professional skills, including hairdressing, barbering and beauty therapies, encouraging them to achieve their academic and career aspirations. The salon is also open to other young learners from the area, who come to be trained by highly qualified staff.

Nicky, 40, owns the Hair Boutique on Gandy Street in Exeter, and volunteers at Hair@theAcademy once a week. ‘The Deaf Academy is close to my heart’, she said. 'I love working with young people and really enjoy volunteering here.'

This isn’t Nicky’s first attempt at a skydive. ‘It’s always been on my bucket list, and I did sign up once before but the jump was cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather. I’m trying to keep a brave face this time – my inspiration is a 65-year-old client who was scared of flying but still managed to skydive. Whenever I feel nervous I think of her!'

Later this year work will begin on Exeter Deaf Academy’s ground-breaking new purpose-built Academy in Exmouth. Scheduled to open in 2019, this new world-class Academy aims to change the lives of Deaf students by supporting them to be valued by themselves and their society, and to play a critical role in building an integrated Deaf-friendly community in Exmouth. Claire and Nicky have already raised £141 and £151 of their sponsorship targets thanks to the support of family, friends and the local community. For further information on the New Build, visit the website: exeterdeafacademy.ac.uk/support-us/new-build