STUDENTS and staff from Gloucestershire College’s Forest campus braved one of the country’s longest zipwires for a fund-raiser.

The money raised will help meet the costs of a residential trip to help develop students’ independent living skills.

Other students will go away on a volunteering weekend with the Canals and Waterways Trust.

Kirsty Foran, head of foundation studies at the college, said: “We have around 90 students in the independent living school and they go to a variety of places including a working farm in Cirencester.

“Our volunteering groups will go to the Canals and Waterways Trust and we are fund-raising for the accommodation.

“It helps our students with special educational needs and disabilities with their independent living skills.

“For some of our students it is the first time away from their parents.”

Braving the zipwire at the National Diving Centre at Tidenham was the idea of curriculum leader Sharon Batcock.

The college is hoping to raise a total of £6,500 to subsidise the two-night trips and other events are planned.