Sea Change little children playing on check rugCare

Sea Change Trust

July 8, 2022By

We support Early Years’ Project

The Sea Change Trust offers psychological support to infants, children, young people and their parents and carers, regardless of financial means, background or status.

The Axis Foundation has donated £3,000 towards the cost of purchasing items for their Early Years’ Project including: an additional bell tent and porch, a heater, camping chairs, arts and crafts materials, toys and sensory equipment, a ball pit, windbreakers, blankets, cushions and beanbags, banners, and a tablet to record feedback.

‘We’d like to thank the Axis foundation for their kind donation to our Early Years Project for equipment and very importantly, a new Bell Tent! At a time when services for young families are diminishing and cuts in public transport make accessing support more and more difficult in our rural county, we are delighted that this will help us take our drop-in sessions to more communities. Numbers at the drop-ins are growing and being able to buy a bigger tent will help us all be well ventilated and covid-safe while spending time together. Many, many thanks from all our therapists, parents, and babies’ –  Tess Bailey-Sayer, CEO, The Sea Change Trust.

More About Sea Change Trust

Based in Shropshire, The Sea Change Trust comprises a team of child specialists, experienced in the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services across the West Midlands and in other settings. They particularly want to address and redress the absence of specialist services in rural areas. The charity offers group and one to one support addressing loneliness and bereavement, anxiety and emotional and mental ill-health. Their careful referral process works in partnership with other charities and service providers. They work with young refugees and asylum seekers, with new parents and those with young children and with schools and other partner organisations, to support children, young people, parents, and teachers.

The Early Years Project provides safe and non-judgmental drop-in sessions run by qualified therapists, where pre-school children, parents and carers can share their experiences. The Sea Change Trust intends to deliver more sessions and support more families, particularly focusing on areas of social deprivation and rural isolation.

More about their work here

 

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LivedHealth

June 13, 2022By

Creating videos to help people with MS

People with MS and Parkinson’s host Lived Health‘s patient-led videos which empower patients and support carers.

The Axis Foundation’s 2022 donation of £3,000 helped fund LivedHealth’s video MS101 project in which hosts share their unique and honest perspectives on the issues of receiving and adapting to an MS diagnosis, and interview leading, international MS professionals on a range of topics.

“Many patients with MS feel lonely and isolated as they may not know anyone else with the condition that they can talk to or learn from. We’re incredibly grateful to the Axis Foundation for recognising the importance of patient-led resources and supporting us with our project” – Harriet Arnold, Trusts Fundraiser

The Foundation was delighted to learn that this video has been seen 170,000 times by an estimated 15,000 people in a year.

Second donation

And, in 2023, the Axis Foundation donated £4,000 to LivedHealth to make a follow up series of videos, exploring the topic of people with MS who believe their symptoms are getting worse, but whose belief is not supported by scan results. Thanking the Foundation for our second donation, Harriet Arnold said:

“We would like to extend our thanks to the Axis Foundation for your generous donation of £4,000 towards our “Is Smouldering MS the New MS?” video series. Last year, your donation of £3,000 was instrumental in the success of MS101; we are delighted that you have chosen to continue your support. This cutting-edge research topic could change the lives of people living with MS and, thanks to your donation, we can reach many more individuals in the community.

We are immensely grateful for your contribution to our cause here at LivedHealth. Your kindness will directly help those we serve and our whole team appreciates it. We look forward to continuing this partnership and keeping you updated with the progress of the new video series.”

See LivedHealth’s Thank You video here

More about LivedHealth videos

LivedHealth’s videos on YouTube and Facebook reach a wide and diverse global audience and support people with MS, their loved ones and healthcare professionals. They feature industry-leading international professionals, and provide fellow patients with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make positive lifestyle changes and optimise their engagement with health services.

See one of their videos here and find out more about LivedHealth here

 

 

 

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Funds For Frankie’s Family

June 13, 2022By

Supporting a young family

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support Frankie’s family when he received bad news about his health and was unable to work. We donated £1,000 to help support their baby, Olivia, who was born in June.

When Frankie and his partner were expecting their first baby, Frankie found out he had Stage 4 Melanoma cancer. He received the news on Christmas Eve 2021. And in January 2022, he underwent an operation to remove lymph nodes and afterwards started his chemotherapy. Frankie is self-employed, an electrician by trade, and is not able to work because of the treatment. His family is on a low income and unable to help him financially.

Sarah Cooper, Senior RLO at Axis, applied for this grant for Frankie: his family are Sarah’s neighbours, and Frankie was in the same class as Sarah’s son, so Sarah feels a close connection and wants to help.

Thanking the Foundation, Sarah Cooper said: “I spoke to Frankie’s Mum on Christmas Eve when she told me his cancer had progressed from Stage 1 to Stage 4. I went home and was really upset. Then I thought, ‘I can help’ – so I applied to the Foundation for some money to help him whilst he was unable to work. I was absolutely overwhelmed to hear that my application had been successful. Vouchers for the new baby will really help this young family. Frankie’s prognosis is good but he will be monitored for the next ten years. All his family, including his grandparents are extremely grateful to the Axis Foundation for their donation.”

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T.E.A.MS

March 7, 2022By

Improving well-being of MS sufferers

T.E.A.MS (Therapy, Exercise, Active, MS) provides people with MS with physical exercise, improving the mental and physical wellbeing of MS sufferers.

The Axis Foundation donated £1,400 to help T.E.A.MS purchase essential small items including a couch roll, oils, foam and half foam rollers, dyna bands as well as a massage bed.

“This funding will make such a difference to T.E.A.MS users. It will allow us to continue our work providing suitable therapies. Thank you to you and the other trustees for awarding us this grant” – Jacalyne Cebreiro, Sports Therapist, Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist

Massage therapy by their qualified, experienced professionals (with 66 years experience in working with Multiple Sclerosis) is proven to help people with MS both physically (with aches, pain and fatigue) and mentally (relaxation).

More about T.E.A.MS

Everyone at T.E.A.MS has a deep knowledge and understanding of M.S. So, they provide invaluable advice and support, not only for the sufferer but for their families and carers too. And, as well as physical support like massage and exercise, the charity provides friendship and support to sufferers, offering a focus on positive living. Its overall aim is to maintain and improve both the physical and mental condition of those with MS and other similar neurological conditions

“T.E.A.MS has given me advice, exercise and true friendships that helps me immeasurably” – Emma

T.E.A.MS was founded in 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the restrictions of lockdown meant that therapy for MS Sufferers was even more vital.The charity is based in Brentwood, Essex where Axis works with the local council to support local residents keeping their home safe and comfortable.

More about T.E.A.MS here 

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Care

Little Heroes

March 7, 2022By

Helping children and families affected by Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The Axis Foundation donated £1,200 to help Little Heroes develop their monthly girls club sessions for parents and children. The charity helps families and children affected by ASD.

“This is fantastic news – thank you so much. The funds will really help to be able to make something more meaningful and help the children benefit to the full potential” – Kim Drake, Co-Founder

More about Little Heroes ASD Support Group

Official diagnosis of ASD can take a long time (sometime up to three years). Based in Southend on Sea, Essex, Little Heroes supports families when they need it most: as soon as they discover their child’s needs. They provide support, information, opportunities for respite, social activities and networking opportunities. They also hold weekly drop-in sessions and also organise social activities in the school holidays.

There’s more about Little Heroes here

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Mindful Peak

March 7, 2022By

Support for young carers

Mindful Peak helps young carers to improve their physical and mental wellbeing through boxing and mindfulness. The charity has recently developed BAM! which fuses non-contact boxing training with mindfulness through one-to-one sessions, video and a specially developed App. They developed BAM! with help from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Barnardo’s.

The Axis Foundation donated £1,250 towards film videoing and editing as well as skipping ropes for boxing training.

“I’m delighted that the Axis Foundation saw the value in this project that supports a group of young carers who need this support now more than ever. Thank you and we look forward to delivering this project and sharing the impact” – Luke Doherty, Founder and MD

Helping Young Carers

Young carers face extra responsibilities at home often leaving them feeling lonely or as though no one else understands. They can feel isolated and often miss out-of-school activities or meet-ups with friends. And they often become anxious about the person they care for when they’re away from them. Mindful Peak helps young carers become better able to respond to the specific challenges they face.

More About Mindful Peak

Working in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest and Newham Mindful Peak is a not-for-profit enterprise dedicated to sharing a mindfulness-based approach to performance.

Luke Doherty founded Mindful Peak in 2019. Luke played Rugby for England. He gained a postgraduate degree in Law and Community Leadership and then trained as a mindfulness instructor.

In addition to supporting disadvantaged young people, Mindful Peak teaches mindfulness to elite athletes.They have worked with Saracens and Harlequins rugby clubs, Brentford football club, the GB Skateboarding and British Weightlifting teams among others.

More here

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Cartoon of woman and shadowHelping sufferers manage depressionCare

Hope in Depression

March 7, 2022By

Helping sufferers manage depression – and teaching them and their carers to understand more about depression too.

‘Providing HOPE to people who believe there is none’, this Ascot-based charity runs six-week courses available to everyone in Berkshire.

The Axis Foundation donated £3,700 towards the production of 500 coursebooks which support these courses.

‘We are thrilled to receive this funding and to know a batch of 500 course books are paid for. We are globally in a mental health crisis, and this can feel like an insurmountable problem but we know there is HOPE and we have a solution that works. The Hope in Depression course saves lives.

“We all need to learn how to get the best from our mental health and to learn that life is to enjoy not endure. Our outstanding speaker films instigate conversation, provide empowering solutions, highlight choice. Discussion creates community, which in turn normalises what each person is going through. And so HOPE grows” – Lisa Owens, CEO and Founder

More about the course

The six-week Hope in Depression course covers brain chemistry; nutrition, physical activity, goal setting and mindfulness. And there are talks from experts plus the support of a psychiatrist, GP, therapist, nutritionist, mindfulness instructor and a fitness instructor. The coursebook to which we are contributing provides all the information from the six-week course. And so it provides a reference guide during the course and support for after the course has finished. It has helpful hints and tips as well as signposting support organisations

More about Hope in Depression

Lisa Owens founded Hope in Depression in 2013. She says: “I was so relieved to experience life after depression that I thought my suffering, my battle and my recovery could have a purpose. I wanted to share a message I didn’t believe for a long time: you can get better.”
More here 

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Brenda Gains Better Quality of Life

December 8, 2021By

Our donation provides a wet room – plus privacy, dignity, independence and better quality of life for Brenda

As a consequence of Brenda’s major health issues, she is unable to bathe without assistance. Lifting her legs into the bath causes her too much pain. But thanks to the Foundation’s donation of £6,280, Brenda now has a wet room which will give her the privacy and independence she needs.

“I would like to thank everyone who was involved at Axis that has made this happen. You have made one very happy woman. This has meant so much to me and I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into making my wet room just so I can have a bit of dignity and independence brought back into my life. I would just like to thank Mark, Anthony and Matt for all of their hard work in making my wet room a reality. They have worked so hard to make my life so much easier. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart” – Brenda

Brenda’s Story

Two months following Brenda’s 50th Birthday in 2011 she fell ill with flu-like symptoms. Within a month she was unable to walk without the aid of a walking stick. Soon she had to use a walking frame, and her mobility continued to deteriorate so she was unable to leave the house alone or without the aid of a wheelchair/electric scooter. She couldn’t continue at her job in a pharmaceutical factory because walking aids are not allowed on the factory floor.

Brenda has been through years of rigorous tests. But sadly her condition continues to deteriorate with no official diagnosis. She now has limited movement in her  body and is constantly in pain, taking multiple medications.

There is very little anyone can do to make Brenda’s condition any better at the moment. Bbut there are ways of improving her quality of life dramatically. We all take jumping in the shower for granted. But for Brenda, installing a new wet room, thanks to the Foundation, has given her some  independence and most importantly restored her dignity and given her a better quality of life generally too.

Lorrae Mannering, Commercial Manager here at Axis, asked the Axis Foundation to help her aunt Brenda and we were delighted to support her application.

 

 

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MS Therapy Centre (NW)

December 8, 2021By

Mobility for MS Sufferers – and their carers too – at MS Therapy Centre

Our donation of £3,173 helped MS Therapy Centre (NW) purchase a new Raizer II Chair. The Raizer II emergency lifting chair helps fallen people get back on their feet with ease. And, as it only needs one person to work it, the specialist chair helps the carers at the Centre too.

“People like you at the Axis Foundation mean we can provide the best for all our members and give them peace of mind. If someone should fall in our centre we have the equipment to safely get them up. Thank you Axis Foundation for the donation. It means the world to all of us here at the MS Therapy Centre (NW)” –  Sean Halsall Fundraiser

More about our donation

Lockdowns as a result of the Pandemic mean that MS Therapy Centre members have not been active for the past 12 months. Some have become physically unstable. Our donation will provide immediate and long term  support to members particularly after a fall – and carers too.

More about the MS Therapy Centre

Established in 2004, the MS Therapy Centre (NW) provides a wide range of therapies and services in a caring and supporting environment to enrich the lives of their 400 members and to limit the effects of MS on sufferers.

And there’s more here

 

 

 

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Keeping kids safe with OK OKCare

OK Our Kids

September 6, 2021By

Keeping children safe

Working with the police, OK Our Kids (OKOK) created Watch Out! and Mistakes and Ladders. The book and board game help young children deal confidently with the challenges of keeping safe at home, at school and in the community.

The Axis Foundation donated £1,000 to help fund printing costs. Our Trustees were impressed by the clear benefits to young children today and to future generations.

“Your wonderful donation has already been spent on producing more product. Rest assured, monies made from sales goes directly into buying more of our wonderful “Watch Out!” books and “Mistakes and Ladders” board games. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your donation WILL make a HUGE difference to young people’s lives” – Tony and Lynn Bartley, Founders

More about Watch Out!/Mistakes and Ladders

Aimed at keeping children safe, the book and board game teach children DOs and DON’Ts, the right way to behave and how to lead by example. Both encourage families and schools to discuss safety openly.

OKOK produced Watch Out! books and Mistakes and Ladders board games for Primary schools in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Devon and Cornwall. Buckinghamshire Council, Thames Valley Police and City of London Police have endorsed both products as have charities Barnardo’s and the NSPCC.

Here’s what the teachers say

“The Watch Out! books are excellent and cover many topical issues relevant to our children’s learning and the primary curriculum. It is tricky to approach some of these topics. And the book serves as a great starting point at a level that is appropriate for primary aged children” – Cags Gilbert, Head Teacher, Constantine Primary School

“The Watch Out! kids books are a super resource” –  Jules Jenkin, Head Teacher, Mabe School

And there’s more!

Find out more about OK Our Kids here 

 

 

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