Mother Jo Harvey Abseils Spinnaker Tower to Support Hammersley Homes
When mother Jo Harvey abseils the Spinnaker Tower during the Brighterway Abseil Challenge, she won’t be thinking about the dizzying 100-meter drop.
She’ll be thinking about her son, the trauma they’ve endured, and the carers who fight daily battles in silence. Importantly, she’ll be thinking about hope, which she rediscovered thanks to the outstanding work and compassion of Louise Hallett and Hammersley Homes.
A Mother’s Story of Survival
As a devoted mother, Jo’s journey hasn’t simply been emotional, but life-altering. Her son Ed, who is autistic and now diagnosed with schizophrenia, went through a devastating series of events after falling through the cracks in both the UK and US mental health systems.
From nearly dying after an overdose to ending up homeless on the streets of Los Angeles, and then imprisoned while suffering psychosis, Ed’s story reflects a system deeply in need of reform.
Desperate to protect him and maintain peace at home, Jo even converted their garage into a living space for Ed to reduce triggers in the family home that worsened his condition.
However, their struggle didn’t stop there.
As a result of her son’s trauma Jo now lives with severe anxiety that she says borders on PTSD. Triggers like her unanswered phone and ambulances can bring her back to that terrifying overdose. “If my phone isn’t near me, I panic,” she says. “It’s a trauma that never really leaves.”
Finding Light in the Darkness
Amidst the darkness she and her family have endured, Jo found Hammersley Homes. This pioneering Hampshire-based charity is dedicated to providing long-term housing and support for people with enduring mental illness.
She speaks emotionally of the connection she’s forged with their founder, Louise Hallett. A kindred spirit and passionate advocate of mental health care, Louise helped to show Jo that support doesn’t stop with the individual, but extends to families too.
“They gave me hope that I might not always have to do this alone,” Jo says.
Jo also paints – something she says helps her maintain “a piece of herself.” “Otherwise, we sink. We lose who we are.” She also volunteers, helping adults with learning disabilities and advocating passionately for their needs.
Brave Steps
Though she’s terrified of heights and dealing with balance issues, Jo Harvey is determined to abseil the Spinnaker Tower. Her courage comes from a strong sense of purpose.
“I won’t look down – I’m going to look straight at the wall!” she laughs. “I’m scared, but not as scared as I was visiting my son in jail or not knowing if he’d make it through the night.”
She dreams of not just better care, but better lives – imagining care homes that feel like homes, not institutions. “People with mental illness and the elderly shouldn’t be left to just exist. They have passions, ideas, and potential. They’re not ‘waiting to die’, they’re waiting to be heard.”
Jo will be completing the abseil with her two daughters, making for a true family effort in support of Ed.
Why Support Matters
Hammersley Homes isn’t just about housing. It’s about preserving dignity, nurturing stimulation – through reading, companionship and cognitive therapies – and empowering people and carers alike.
Jo knows her son may never fully recover. However, she believes in building a world where recovery is supported, where people aren’t forgotten, and where carers are valued, emotionally and practically.
“It’s not just about the patients. It’s about the carers doing phenomenal work, often underpaid or unpaid. We all need Hammersley Homes.”
Help Jo To Take Action
Jo Harvey abseiling the Spinnaker Tower is a resounding call for compassion, funding, and change.
👉 Donate now and support Hammersley Homes through Jo’s Spinnaker Tower challenge.
You can also make contributions via the Brighterway donations page: https://www.brighterway.org.uk/how-to-donate/
📣 Share this post. Let people know that stories like Jo’s aren’t rare – and that support can change lives.
Together, we can help families like Jo’s reclaim hope.