Cllr Carole Williams raises cash for homeless charity with daring act.

POLTICIANS often have to take a jump into the unknown for their principals but one Hoxton councillor took it a step further.

Cllr Carole Williams made her leap of faith far away from the council chamber in Hackney – she went 13,000ft up in the air.

The Labour councillor took part in a charity skydive to help raise funds for the homeless charity Crisis.

Cllr Williams said: “I have been helping Crisis on and off for years but since becoming a councillor I have not been able to do as much as I hoped.

“I managed to raise about �400 last year through smaller fundraising but I wanted to do better this year.

“They sent a message out letting people know of ways they can help raise funds. I saw the skydiving one and I literally jumped at the opportunity.”

After signing up, Cllr Williams set about getting friends and family to sponsor her for the dare-devil stunt.

“When I told people they were not really surprised to be honest as it is kind of in character,” the Hoxton councillor said.

“Most people just said things like ‘Oh Carole is doing another crazy thing’ but they were all really supportive.”

Come the day of the big jump and any nerves were forgotten as the small plane climbed to 13,000ft from the base in Oxfordshire.

Cllr Williams said: “I wanted to be one of the first to go so I would not have to wait around but as it happened I was the last.

“Having a man strapped to my back meant I had struggled to the door, shuffling all the way. I’m glad that bit wasn’t videod as it was oh so unattractive.

“I held onto the handle, took the assumed position, waved to the camera. Then I was pushed out of the door.

“It was an amazing experience and I would love to do it again.”

Crisis is a charity supporting homeless single people through education, employment, housing and well-being services.

As well as supporting those without homes the charity also looks to help prevent people becoming homeless in the first place.