Ten skydivers jumped out of a plane at 13,000ft to help raise £3,500 for children’s charity More Than Words.

The money will go towards more workshops to help parents and carers learn Makaton – a language programme that uses signs and symbols to help people communicate.

More Than Words was founded by Hoo couple Paul and Hannah Hughes whose daughter Gracie has an undiagnosed genetic disorder which gives her communication difficulties.

Paul and Hannah estimate they will have helped more than 100 parents and carers train in Makaton signing by January 2016.

As NHS waiting lists are so long, More Than Words has paid for a local Makaton workshop, costing £1,500.

But the aim is to train people to teach Makaton so it can be made available to everybody in contact with a child having communication difficulties, at a fraction of the cost.

Among the skydivers was Dougie Muir, who said: “My first skydive has been on my bucket list for some time, but the opportunity to simultaneously fundraise for such an incredible cause made it even more impossible to turn this opportunity down.

“Speech-inhibiting conditions are very frustrating and that is increased ten-fold when a lack of diagnosis means that nobody can explain why. I’d love to think I could help these kids find a voice through the amazing work of More Than Words.”

The charity also teamed up with Unit 10 Eventive earlier this month to give 10 children the chance to enjoy the Gruffalo Experience at Bluewater, where a storyteller was on hand to sign Makaton.

More similar events are planned in the future.