A team of NHS Southern Health staff participated in a daring 100-metre abseil down Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower.

Among the team was 32-year-old Arielle Wilkes, Team Leader for the South-West Integrated Single Point of Access for NHS Southern Health and Health and Wellbeing Champion based in Bishopstoke.

More than 30 staff members took part in the challenge, resulting in over £10,000 for the Brighterway charity mission to enhance patient and community care in the South, beyond what is covered by NHS funding.

One aspect of the charity’s work emphasises the creation and development of outdoor spaces to boost wellbeing.

This service takes both patients and staff beyond the traditional settings of clinics and hospitals.

A previous beneficiary of such charity endeavours, Ms Wilkes had personal motivations for participating.

Her daughter, Lottie, born with Exomphalos, was housed in neonatal and high-care units for ten days.

Following this, Ms Wilkes experienced post-natal depression but was provided profound support from both NHS staff and volunteers.

Her son, Jonah, who underwent open-heart surgery at the tender age of six months, also received invaluable assistance from specialised charities.

The abseil in April event saw many Southern Health staffers like Ms Wilkes raising critical funds for charities like Brighterway.

The mental health charity uniquely enables patient care programs that often go beyond the scope provided by the NHS budget.

Funds raised from such activities help further their mission of easing the pathway to patient wellness, supplementing conventional NHS clinical provisions.