Ian Kane works at Brent Community Law Centre

A co-ordinator for a centre in Willesden offering free legal advice to vulnerable residents has raised more than £8,000 by taking to the skies and hurling himself from a plane.

Ian Kane, who works at Brent Community Law Centre, took part in a sponsored skydive to raise money for law centres across the country.

Ian, along with colleagues from law centres in Lambeth and Newcastle, travelled to the North London Skydiving Centre, Cambridgeshire, to take part in the sponsored jump.

The £8,000 raised so far will go to the Law Centres Network (LCN), an independent charity which supports and represents 52 law centres in England and Wales.

Speaking about his 5,000ft plunge, Ian said: “The experience for me was just awesome, in the truest sense of the word.

“Falling from that height you feel so free. It was exhilarating and at the same time, so peaceful above those clouds. I was attached to an instructor so I was able to enjoy the whole experience without concern for the logistics.”

Community Law Centres have faced savage cuts recently with the legal aid reform bill, and the centre in Pound Lane recently hosted Lord Tom McNally, the justice minister, to highlight the impact and how they were coping.

Ian added: “Cuts to legal aid, local authority grants and other national funding mean law centres are really struggling. I wanted to do my bit to help. There’s still time to sponsor me.”

Julie Bishop, director of the LCN, added: “I am immensely impressed with the courage and commitment shown by these staff in their bid to raise money to preserve access to justice for some of the poorest and most vulnerable members of society.

“The government’s austerity measures mean that funding to Law Centres and other legal advice providers is diminishing.

“People need sound advice on their options. They need law centres now more than ever.”

To sponsor Ian please visit http://www.justgiving.com/law-centres/