Support worker skydives for Newham pupils

Melissa York

Published: 9:30 AM June 23, 2012 Updated: 9:54 AM October 13, 2020

A support worker in Newham schools is jumping out of a plane to raise funds for the pupils she cares for.

Shelley Clarke, who recently featured in The Guardian for her work, looks after children and their families who are struggling to cope with the demands of education and issues at home.

Shelley, who lives in Manor Park, works for a charity called School Home Support (SHS) with pupils at Woodgrange Infant School and Godwin Junior School in Forest Gate as one of six support workers based in Newham.

Children from families with problems related to housing, bereavement, poverty, immigration, physical and mental health issues often struggle in school so SHS workers run parenting courses, and go into their homes to tackle truancy and behavioural problems.

Passionate about her work, Shelley will be taking part in a tandem skydive from 10,000 on July 7 to raise awareness and funds for the pupils.

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Shelley, who has been working for the charity for five years, said: “SHS would love to raise awareness, and therefore the possibility of increasing funds in order to continue our work in Newham.

“SHS really provides an invaluable service to hundreds of local families.”