At Connaught Windows, we spend most of our time on the ground, manufacturing and supplying trade customers with uPVC and aluminium windows, doors, conservatories and glass products across Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and the New Forest.
Recently, though, our name went somewhere very different – 13,000 feet above Salisbury Plain. Every so often, an opportunity comes along that reminds us why people matter just as much as products, and that was exactly what happened today.
A Gift That Became Something Much Bigger
The story began with a Christmas present.
Marc received a skydive voucher as a gift. It could easily have been a simple thrill and a great day out. Instead, he decided to turn it into something with a much deeper purpose.
Marc’s niece, Kirsty, is 31 and has been diagnosed with cancer. Like many families in similar situations, they are dealing with the emotional and practical challenges that come with serious illness. Marc wanted to do something positive for her, and that is where the idea of a charity skydive was born.
Every pound raised from his jump is going towards supporting Kirsty at a time when she needs it most.
Jumping Over Salisbury Plain
The skydive took place at Netheravon, home of the Army Parachute Association, a well known centre for tandem jumps and parachute training.
On the day, Marc headed up in a small plane with a trained instructor. Together, they climbed to 13,000 feet over Salisbury Plain. Once the door opened and they moved to the edge, there was no going back.
Harnessed to his instructor, Marc exited the aircraft and experienced that surreal moment when the ground feels impossibly far away and the wind takes over. The freefall quickly gave way to the calm of the parachute canopy as they floated back down towards Netheravon.
After landing, Marc described the experience as “brilliant as ever” and said he recommends it to anybody. In his words, if you get the chance, “go to Netheravon and do a skydive.”
Our Role in the Day
When we heard about Marc’s plan and the reason behind it, we knew we wanted to help. We came on board as sponsors for the skydive, helping to support the fundraising and share Kirsty’s story more widely.
For us, this was about more than putting our logo on something. We are a family run trade manufacturer based in Bournemouth, and community and personal stories matter to us.
By sponsoring Marc, we wanted to:
- Help boost donations for Kirsty
- Show support for a family going through an incredibly tough time
- Use our platform in the trade sector to draw a bit more attention to the cause
Our day to day work involves supplying installers with reliable, high performing products, but we also want our business to reflect the values of the people behind it.
Why This Matters to Us as a Trade Manufacturer
We manufacture and supply a wide range of products to the trade, including uPVC and aluminium windows, composite and uPVC doors, lantern roofs, conservatories and glass units.
Most of the time, these products are discussed in terms of U values, security hardware, colour options and lead times. All of that is important, but at the end of every installation there is a home or commercial space where real people live and work. Families like Kirsty’s.
That is one of the reasons this event resonated with us. It was a reminder that the work we do ultimately supports the places where life happens, including the everyday moments and the difficult ones.
We talk a lot about reliability in manufacturing and delivery. Here, reliability meant something slightly different: being there when someone needed backing, and following through on that commitment.
Sharing the Story with Our Trade Partners
Many of the installers and trade customers we work with have their own links to charitable causes and personal stories connected to illness. By sponsoring Marc’s skydive, we also wanted to bring our wider trade community into the picture.
We are proud to work with installers across Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and the surrounding regions, and we know how important reputation and relationships are in this sector. Supporting a charity effort like this sits naturally alongside the way we do business every day. Whenever there’s an opportunity to give back to our local communities, we’re always the first to jump on it.
Looking Ahead
Marc’s jump may have lasted only a few minutes from plane to landing, but the impact goes far beyond the adrenaline rush. The funds raised will help Kirsty and her family at a time when extra support makes a real difference.
For us, this has been a reminder of what we want Connaught Windows to stand for. We will continue to focus on doing what we do best like manufacturing quality windows, doors, conservatories and glass products for our trade customers, while also looking for opportunities to back people and causes that matter.
To everyone who donated, shared updates or simply took an interest in Marc’s skydive and Kirsty’s story, thank you.
And if you are a trade installer who wants a supply partner that delivers dependable products and also cares about what is happening in the community, we are always happy to talk. Get in touch with us at Connaught Windows today.
