This summer, a long-held dream came true for Maesteilo’s Matthew as he realised his dream of doing a skydive thanks to his determined support team.
Matthew loves the sensory experiences of wind and being up high, so colleagues had long hoped to give him the experience of a lifetime by taking him skydiving.
However, for safety reasons, it wasn’t possible for Matthew to jump out of a plane, so determind colleagues had to put their thinking caps on.
Service Manager Nathan Greenwood said the perfect solution presented itself when they discovered iFLY, a simulation skydive experience in Basingstoke.
Nathan said: “This was the experience of a lifetime for Matthew and his Support Workers, Brian and Danny.
“We’ve spent a long time thinking about how we could help Matthew achieve this goal, with his safety and wellbeing at the forefront of our minds.
“IFLY was a terrific solution to give Matthew the experience he dreamed of and ensure that he was safe and supported at all times.”
On the day of the dive, the trio watched others go in and have the experience, feeling nervous about taking their turn.
However, their fears were quickly forgotten when the experience began.
Nathan added: “Matthew got into position, stretched out his arms and legs, and the simulation began.
“Floating through the air with the wind blowing in his face, it was as if Matthew was flying.
“Brian and Danny said they shared that incredible buzz of the skydive and said it was an unforgettable experience.
“I’m so proud of the team for recognising Matthew’s potential, thinking about how to support him in achieving the goal, and then making this experience happen.
“Well done, Matthew, you absolutely smashed it!”
