Ex-teacher set to take leap of faith (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Ex-teacher set to take leap of faith

12:42pm Thursday 15th February 2007 in News

A TEWKESBURY businessman is to take a 10,000 foot leap of faith in March to raise money for the National Literacy Trust.

Business-writing trainer Simon Brooks is preparing himself to take part in a skydiving challenge to raise at least £500 for the charity that aims to cure problems many individuals have with reading and writing.

Simon, aged 31, runs a Tewkesbury-based training company called Kangaroo2, which specialises in providing expert business writing and motivation training.

But before he began in business he was head of English at Cleeve School, Bishops Cleeve and also taught for several years at Prince Henry's High School in Evesham.

He said: "I have always fancied skydiving. The feeling of freedom must be amazing but let's just hope the parachute opens!

"As an English teacher I've always had a firm belief in the importance of literacy. UK businesses lose £41billion a year because of poor written communication.

"I aim to redress this deficit, working with businesses both small and large to develop skills such as effective e mail, proposal and business report writing."

Simon hopes to raise at least £500 for the National Literacy Trust, which he says is the only organisation concerned with raising literacy standards for all age groups across the UK.

"Many of my friends and clients have been very generous." Simon said.

"I hope others in the county will sponsor me if they can as even a few pounds will make a huge difference to the invaluable work of the National Literacy Trust."

To sponsor Simon visit www.kangaroo2.com or e mail simon@kangaroo2.com