The deputy manager of a Taunton care home says she is “not nervous, but excited” about the charity skydive she plans to do with a colleague at 10am on 12 September in a bid to raise money to help their home buy a minibus for residents living with dementia.

Sophie Norman, 33, and Sue Derrick, 58, will be making the 10,000ft plunge watched by some of the residents and colleagues from The Rectory as well as friends and family members.

The pair have pledged to raise £1,000 towards to the purchase of a minibus for the home and say they also hope to contribute to Alzheimer's Society to support their much-needed research into dementia, the heartbreaking condition which affects all the people they support at work.

Sue Derrick already has experience of skydiving, having done a dive on her 50th birthday, also in aid of Alzheimer’s Society, and says she “absolutely loved it.”

Sophie Norman said: “I would say I’m not nervous but excited - however I expect that may change once I’m standing in the open doorway of the plane.

“I feel skydiving is not for everyone because it does have that fear factor and it’s something that tests your confidence, but we’re hoping this will be a fruitful fundraising effort because we’re keen to make a meaningful contribution towards the purchase of The Rectory’s own minibus – it will be so lovely for the ladies and gents we support.”

Taunton residents Sophie and Sue have worked at The Rectory, a White Care Group care home, for nine months and five years respectively and had no hesitation in identifying their motives for fundraising.

Sophie said: “A new minibus will enable us to give our wonderful residents greater access to the wider community, and take them to the beach and the zoo, for example.

“Keeping active and part of their local community is really important for their well-being, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we make our £1,000 target.”

Sue added: “Having our own minibus will further enable us to ensure the people we support are living their best possible lives.

“We aim for The Rectory to be very home-from-home, and once we’ve got this vehicle we’ll be able to take residents out and about more easily which will be great.”

Contributions to the fundraising can be made via Sophie and Sue’s donation-protected page on GoFundMe , also accessible here: https://bit.ly/470yQQR

The pair are doing their skydive with Skydive Buzz from Dunkeswell Airfield near Honiton.

The Rectory is one of three care homes run by dementia care specialists White Care Group, with the other two being located in Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet.