Girl standing in bedroomCare

Room for Justice

We create a safe, warm space for a friend in need – a Room for Justice!

Clare Payne, Resident Liaison Officer at Axis, wrote to the Axis Foundation to ask for help on behalf of her friend Justice.

 “Justice is the sole carer for her nan, grandad and her mother who is blind. She is the kindest person who never complains about anything. She always puts everyone else first and I have never known her to ask for anything.”

“Justice can only work part time as she needs to be on hand for simple tasks, such as placing toothpaste on the toothbrush, cooking dinner, or picking up dropped items from the floor. Justice will never be able to go on holiday without her mother, never has a day off and will likely not be able to afford to move into her own property due to financial restraints of working only part time. As she is currently being furloughed , money is even tighter than it ever has been.”

Clare asked if the Foundation could help improve Justice’s bedroom, to make it a place where her friend could relax, away from the stresses of her everyday life. And the Foundation was glad to help both Clare and Justice. For the threadbare neglected bedroom we purchased a brand-new bed, bedding, curtains, poles and carpet. And Axis’ own people, including our Apprentices, decorated Justice’s room and improved the lighting too.

“The transformation has been incredible. Justice is so grateful for the help and support of everyone. I am truly grateful to the Foundation for reminding Justice that good things happen to good people and that her hard work every single day does not go unnoticed.

“That was the message I was trying to give her, and we have certainly achieved that,” says Clare.

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Child in grey Hypo Hounds t-shirt and black dogCare

Hypo Hounds

Helping children with Diabetes: we purchase a specialist Diabetic Alert Assistance dog

“One sniff at a time” Hypo Hounds save the lives of children affected with Brittle Type 1 Diabetes every day. And our donation of £2,700 will purchase and feed a puppy and also cover its insurance.

“The wonderful donation by the Axis Foundation will enable us to purchase a puppy for a child, insure it and feed it for the first year of its life. Without this funding we would have had to temporarily disappoint a child that is in desperate clinical need. We are extremely grateful” – Mrs Jane Pearman FRSM, Chief Executive and Founder

CASE STUDY Ruby the Hypo Hound

“My daughter Chloe might not be here now if it wasn’t for Hypo Hound Ruby. During a recent sickness bug Ruby began to panic! She is usually such a calm dog, she would not stop alerting. We tried to control Chloe’s bloods as best we could at home, but we were not able to keep her fluid intake up. Ruby knew this and Chloe was at serious risk of falling into DKA. We listened to Hypo Hound Ruby, trusted that something wasn’t right and sought medical advice. Chloe was taken into hospital and placed onto a drip until her vomiting bug ended.

“Chloe and Ruby are the best of friends and are inseparable. Ruby is just amazing and we love her to bits” – Kathy (Chloe’s mum)

More about Hypo Hounds

Type 1 Diabetes effects 29,000 people in the UK. And 20% of those have this rare form, Brittle Type 1 Diabetes, for which there is no known cause and there is no cure. And every day, children with Brittle Type 1 Diabetes are at risk of collapsing, failing into a Diabetic coma and potentially dying in their sleep.

Because Hypo Hounds are trained to alert to parents/owners of the subtle changes in a child’s blood sugars they can help to prevent potentially life-threatening hypoglycaemic attacks, allowing parents to treat the child and mitigate the risk of hospital admissions.

Early detection of these changes in children with Brittle Type 1 Diabetes also means that the child’s long-term health is improved. Early detection reduces risk of renal failure, loss of sight and amputation.

Hypo Hounds’ amazing dogs are beating all the current technology by a precious 15 minutes, providing comfort, peace of mind and relief to parents and families.

More here!

There is more about Kent-based charity Hypo Hounds here.

 

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Girl on Scooter for MS SufferersCare

Mobility Scooters for MS sufferers

Mobility for MS sufferers

When a good friend saw that fellow MS sufferer Alice Tilley would benefit from a mobility scooter, she applied to the Axis Foundation for help on Alice’s behalf. We were delighted to help with a donation of £2,175 so Alice could have a mobility scooter.

More about Alice

Alice Tilley, 28, has an aggressive form of relapse and remitting MS. When she has a relapse Alice is unable to walk unaided. She cannot drive and is totally reliant on her parents to get her around.

Claire Pearce, who works at Axis, also suffers from MS. After she applied to us, the Axis Foundation bought a lightweight mobility scooter for Claire. And so Claire applied for one for her friend Alice too.

“I have limited mobility and the mobility scooter that the Axis Foundation purchased for me gave me a huge amount of independence. A mobility scooter will help Alice too,” says Claire.

And the Axis Foundation was delighted to help Claire’s friend. Thanking us for our donation of £2,175 Alice said: “I was able to choose the world’s lightest mobility scooter which I can pack into our car.

This is going to make such a difference to my independence and the management of my mobility. Thank you Axis Foundation.”

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funding physiotherapy for Kasia's babyCare

Funding physiotherapy for baby Antoni

Physiotherapy for baby after diagnosis of neurological cyst

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to help Kasia Ulanowska who works at Axis. They agreed to fund 18 months physiotherapy for her baby Antoni  who was diagnosed with a neurological cyst, donating £5474 for the treatment.

Kasia says: “Knowing that we can help him catch up but not being able to afford was just heart breaking. We had not even dreamed about half what we have been donated, we will be forever grateful.”

More about Kasia and Antoni

Kasia Ulanowska gave birth to her long-awaited son Antoni in week 35 of an extremely difficult pregnancy, complicated by multiple medical emergencies. Antoni was born tiny, weighing only 1.7kg (3.7lbs). He was rushed to intensive care and spent a month in hospital before he could come home.

Kasia was concerned about Antoni’s physical development. And a diagnosis of a neurological cyst, a brain abnormality which causes hypertonia (increased muscle tone) put him at a very high risk of abnormal development and developmental delay.

Ruth Bayliss, Highly Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist and Clinical Director of The Children’s Physio LTD, recommended early intervention and regular physiotherapy treatment saying:

“His current physical presentation can be significantly improved with the help of physiotherapy.”

Long waiting times in the NHS forced Kasia to consider private physiotherapy. So, she asked the Axis Foundation for help to fund the treatment.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to help Kasia who works at Axis. They agreed to fund 18 months physiotherapy treatment donating £5474.

Antoni’s physiotherapist reports: “Antoni has done incredibly well over the last year and continues to respond to physiotherapy well and meet his developmental targets.”

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Gift boxes for seriously ill children in hospitalCare

Tyler’s Trust

Gifts and equipment for seriously-ill children

In 2019, we donated £1,500 to Tylers Trust to support their work giving gifts and equipment to seriously ill children in hospitals.

Their Funding Support Officer, Juliet Stallard, explains how our donation helped them give a little bit extra to local children and their families during the pandemic.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to the Axis Foundation. You kindly donated £1,500 to Tyler’s Trust in 2019 towards essential equipment to support seriously-ill children in hospital. The equipment, DVDs and TVs you provided helped children in 2019. And when COVID hit in 2020, many of the children had to lock down in hospital. So the extra provisions you helped us with helped those children in local hospitals who were unable to get out of bed.

Our further donation

In 2020 the Axis Foundation made a further award of £1,690 to Tyler’s Trust to purchase I-pads and tablets.

More about Tyler’s Trust

Young Tyler underwent extensive surgery and radio therapy following a diagnosis of a brain tumour. During his long time in care, the thoughtful 12-year-old bought two young fellow patients a comic and a toy.Their delighted reaction inspired Tyler. So, in 2014, he founded the charity Tyler’s Trust giving a Gift Box to patients who have been diagnosed with a brain tumour or are suffering from a life threatening condition. Each box contains cheering gifts including a teddy, a bandana, a mug, pens, sweets and a voucher. And, as well as giving gift boxes to family members, Tyler’s Trust also provides additional backup including through an annual family support day.

Tyler has been nominated for several awards in recognition of his courage. In 2018, he received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his work. He says that his greatest achievement is the creation of Tyler’s Trust, whose patron is TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton.

There’s more about Tyler’s Trust here

 

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Young disadvantaged children sailingCare

The Ahoy Centre

Supporting vulnerable children

The Axis Foundation donated £3,750 to The AHOY Centre’s Time2Talk programme. Time2Talk provides 1-2-1 emotional and psychological support for vulnerable children. Many children at AHOY come from chaotic home-lives, with little guidance. And these Time2Talk 1-2-1 sessions improve teamwork, self-esteem and leaderships skills.

“On behalf of everyone at AHOY, thank you for believing in our work and helping us to continue to have a real positive impact on people’s lives.

“We have now added our mentoring Time2Talk services to all our main programmes. We will continue to embed this vital piece of support into all additional programmes.

“During the period of your grant, The Time2Talk programme was led by AHOY’s Lead Mentor and qualified Psychologist who worked with a team of qualified mentors. The mentors were also instructors on the activity programme.

“They provided emotional and psychological support to our vulnerable children whilst delivering “on the job” mentoring. And they could recognise any behavioural changes and react appropriately during sessions to support them”  – Danny O’Sullivan, Fundraising Manager

More about Ahoy

The AHOY Centre is based in Deptford, one of London’s most deprived areas. The charity enables disadvantaged and disabled young people to take part in water-based activities and train in life skills.

And there’s more about  AHOY here!

Lockdown update

During Lockdown, AHOY’s virtual hub provided online cooking, nautical theory, drama and fitness sessions for members. And AHOY also cooked and delivered over 1,600 hot meals for vulnerable families. Plus, they provided Covid Capsule activity packs to keep members progressing and engaged.

“As parents of an adult with autism and a learning disability, Lockdown was extremely difficult for us as a family. We were very concerned about T’s mental health. All his activities stopped and his normal routines ended. So we were immensely grateful to AHOY for keeping in touch with the Sailability students and for all the effort that went into reopening the centre” – AHOY parent

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Mum holding baby, CASPA parents of children with autismCare

CASPA

 Support Group for parents and carers of children with autism

Children on the Autistic Spectrum Parent’s Association (CASPA), based in Bromley, Kent, works with around 270 autistic individuals every week. The charity helps build their confidence, sense of self-worth and social and practical skills.

And, as Helen Dyer, Director of CASPA, says: “Parents of children with autism often feel that they are fighting a constant battle. As much as children need a break and understanding, which CASPA provides, parents do too.”

So, our donation of £2,300 will fund a support group based in Orpington, Kent for 100+ parents/carers. They meet and talk, hear and share stories of achievements and struggles. And here they can also discuss ways in which they can help their child with the support of CASPA professionals.

“Just being able to share stories, cry and laugh with other parents/carers in the same situation enables our group members to feel less isolated and ostracised. As they tell us, these groups provide a lifeline when things as an Autism parent get tough.

“This funding is hugely needed and appreciated. It will enable us to keep doing what we do best – providing direct support! Thank you Axis Foundation” – Helen Dyer, Director of CASPA

A CASPA parent says

“The support group has been a lifeline for some of us. It’s a safe place for us to talk and to be able to exchange information on various subjects such as schools, behaviour tips and just to ‘offload’. CASPA goes above and beyond to support our children and our families. This service has definitely saved my sanity on many occasions over the years! We love CASPA!”

More about CASPA

Many autistic people become socially isolated. So they miss out on educational, social and employment opportunities. CASPA runs a wide range of programmes for children, young people and adults on the autism spectrum encouraging them to participate in variety of positive activities. These activities develop social and communication skills and provide learning opportunities, fostering independent living and employment skills.

During lockdown CASPA took their parent support groups online to continue supporting families.

More here 

 

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Man and wheelbarrow standing in front of polytunnelCare

Green Health Thames Valley

Helping people with mental health difficulties

Green Health Thames Valley (GHTV) helps people with mental health difficulties through horticulture-based programmes and activities.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £4,450 purchased a polytunnel, raised beds and green roofs for the sheds for their community garden in Whitley. 

“We are thrilled with the support from the Axis Foundation. Our new polytunnel is fantastic. It enables us to extend our growing season and provide warm dry space for clients. We have installed new raised beds and have finalised designs for a new green roof which will be created very soon. It’s so exciting seeing these improvements. Thank you to all at Axis Foundation. Your support means so much to us all at GHTV” – Richard Byard, Chair of GHTV

More about Green Health

The horticultural programmes at Reading-based Green Health help marginalised and isolated clients. Here they can engage with nature, create projects and participate in physical activities. They can also socialise with other clients and locally-based volunteers. As a result, they become more confident, less socially isolated and develop new skills that move them closer to economic activity and independence.

In addition to helping people with their mental health, GHTV also aims to protect physical health through encouraging  horticulture-related physical activity and promoting healthy eating.

The charity additionally aims to improve the places and spaces of their local communities.

Find out more about the work of Green Health Thames Valley here.

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Collage showing massage and two women in a bus one in yellow vest, one in bright scarf SEDSCare

Sussex Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Support (SEDS)

Support for people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS)

Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes is closely related to Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD). And Pilates, hydrotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, physio and massage all help people with EDS/HSD by strengthening and relaxing muscles.

So, our donation of £3,000 to Sussex Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and Hypermobility Support (SEDS) will fund some of these activities which are offered by SEDS’ Hypermobility-aware specialised practitioners, either 1-2-1 or in specialised groups.

“We are very grateful to the Axis Foundation for their donation. The feedback we are getting from those people with EDS/HSD who have participated in physical activities is amazing. In the longer term we believe that sufferers can sometimes learn to improve – or at least maintain – their own physical health. This might mean less reliance on the NHS from damage they can inadvertently inflict on their bodies. It can also improve their mental well-being” – Jane Green, Founder and Chair of SEDS

More about EDS/HSD

EDS/HSD is a multi-systemic disorder for which there is no care pathway. The condition affects connective tissues throughout the body. Common symptoms include: dislocations, pain, Chronic Fatigue syndrome/ME, allergies, fibromyalgia pain, gastro-intestinal problems, anxiety, heart issues plus other associations. The condition is life limiting: many people with EDS/HSD lose careers, colleagues, friends and hobbies.

“The funding has been amazing – I would not be feeling anywhere near as good without it”

“It made a great deal of difference to my mental health whilst shielding in lockdown”

“Enabled me to carry out a much needed Pilates course following a recent emergency spinal operation and this has really helped my rehabilitation … the instructor is fantastic and very knowledgeable about SEDS”

More about SEDS

SEDS advocates actively for members locally in Sussex and also for their families, friends and carers. The charity also works with other organisations to improve awareness and create a care pathway. During COVID-19 the charity conducted successful online EDS/HSD specialised Pilates classes.

Mental health support

Persistent and acute pain affect mental health whilst fatigue adds to the isolation many sufferers experience. SEDS provides further direct support for members with their mental health.

Pictured:  SEDS event day helping members gain confidence and to access travelling; 1:1 Covid-safe deep tissue massage helping muscle spasms rigidity.

Read more here about their work here.

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Case of opthalmic equipment Fight against BlindnessCare

Fight Against Blindness

Supporting children with sight loss and blindness

Fight Against Blindness offers genetic testing, and funds research to find treatments to cure eye disease. The charity also provides psychological support for children and families attending UK Hospital Eye Clinics and helps raise awareness of children’s eye disease.

The charity works at the Eye Clinic Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, the Oxford Eye Hospital (John Radcliffe), the Southampton Eye Unit (Southampton General Hospital), and Bristol Eye Hospital Children’s Unit.

The Axis Foundation has donated £8,460 to develop a Wheelie Ward Suitcase for use at Bristol Eye Hospital Children’s Unit to help the charity’s work supporting children with sight loss and blindness.

“We are delighted that the Axis Foundation are supporting our children” – Sarah Williams, Trustee, Fight Against Blindness

The suitcase will contain essential ophthalmic diagnostic equipment and is portable enabling clinicians to complete full assessments on children who have been admitted to hospital wards and cannot be attended to in the eye department because they are either on the paediatric intensive care units, are too unwell to travel in wheelchairs or are vulnerable to infection due to immune-suppression.

There is more about Fight Against Blindness here

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