Community

Manchester Urban Diggers

July 2, 2025By

Creating places for people to grow, cook and eat food together

Manchester Urban Diggers produces over 1 tonne of food annually at their main site: Platt Fields Market Garden. Here local people develop a wide range of horticulture skills, connect with others, increase their physical activity, share food, learn about sustainable food growing and get involved in developing ideas and projects.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to award Manchester Urban Diggers a grant of £7,000 to build an integrated water harvesting and automatic irrigation system.

This will help them reduce environmental impact, costs and labour, improve the experience of beneficiaries and staff, and model best-practice of low-input, sustainable agroecological food growing methods.

“We are absolutely thrilled and thankful to receive the generous donation from the Axis Foundation. We’ve started ordering and receiving the irrigation system and will be installing it as soon as we can – the recent weather shows you just how important this technology is going to be this year and the years ahead. We spend hundreds of hours a year keeping our plants alive and this system will dramatically reduce this – meaning we can produce more food and deliver more free community services/events” – Sam Payne, Director

More about Manchester Urban Diggers

Through growing, cooking and eating food, Manchester Urban Diggers improves the environment and personal wellbeing, and strengthens local communities.

Platt Fields Market Garden is also the home of MUD Kitchen where they operate a café to generate an income to help run the garden. MUD Kitchen also operates its own catering service which is open 7 days a week running seasonal fresh food around the city.

More here

 

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Community

Creating a real home for Amy

July 2, 2025By

“Shell” house transformed into a safe and comfortable home

Axis’ Customer Experience Manager Joe Marshall made an application to the Axis Foundation on behalf of Amy McGinty as a result of our Ears and Eyes campaign, inviting employees to put forward suggestions/applications for the Trustees’ consideration.

Joe had seen a plea from Amy on Facebook for a sofa. He says: “As luck would have it, I had two sofas sitting in the garage, so I reached out to offer one of them. I hired a van and delivered it to her home, for free.”

Amy had just moved into a Community Housing home – and, when he dropped off the sofa, Joe found that it was a shell: bare walls, no white goods and no carpets. Amy was cooking for her two small children using only a microwave.

“As a parent myself, I was deeply moved by her situation. Despite everything, she’s staying strong and doing her best for her children, who are both happy and healthy, thankfully. But the thought of them living in those conditions, is tearing at my heart,” Joe told our Trustees.

And our Trustees were delighted to help support Joe’s application. The Foundation funded new flooring and a new bed. And our Axis apprentices painted and decorated Amy’s flat too.

Amy said: My experience with Axis has been amazing! Joe and The Axis Foundation have made such a huge difference to my family life and how I feel about my new home.”

Amy explained that before receiving help from the Axis Foundation, she was unsure how she would afford or manage the necessary decorating for her “forever home.” Having recently moved from temporary accommodation, her new place needed a lot of work.

“The Axis Foundation made this happen, and I’m so pleased with the outcome. My new home now truly feels like home – it’s absolutely amazing, compared to a few months ago. My children and I are so happy now!”

“The team involved was amazing; they were so thorough and just did a great job overall. I want to say a huge thank you to Joe for making this happen. Without his involvement, I’d still be living in a shell! And of course, to the Axis Foundation for all their help and support. Without them, my house wouldn’t be a home, and I’m loving being here now. More importantly, my children love it too!”

Joe Marshall said: Having been a part of Axis for the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the profound impact of the Axis Foundation’s initiatives within local communities. The Foundation not only extended crucial support for Amy’s cause, but also meticulously coordinated inspections and the subsequent restorative work, transforming Amy’s previously dilapidated residence into a comfortable and secure home for her and her children. It is genuinely a source of immense pride and satisfaction to be associated with an organisation that demonstrates such genuine commitment to the well-being of its local communities.”

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Community

Mama2Mama Baby Essentials

July 2, 2025By

Bringing practical support to families in crisis

Mama2Mama is a baby bank supporting families in crisis in Woolwich, south east London.

They collect pre-loved donations from their community—including clothing, baby equipment, and hygiene products—and redistribute them to families referred by health visitors, social workers and other professionals.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support their work with a donation of £2,500 which will purchase essential items to provide immediate relief to families in crisis, ensuring that their children’s basic needs are met. These include:

  • Formula milk supplies
  • Nappies and wipes
  • New baby cot mattresses
  • Breast pumps and milk bottles
  • Warm blankets and essential winter clothing for babies and toddlers

“We are absolutely thrilled and deeply appreciative of the Axis Foundation’s decision to award Mama2Mama a grant of £2,500. This generous financial support will make a significant difference in helping us grow and strengthen the vital support we provide to families in need. We are committed to using these funds wisely and ensuring they have a lasting impact on our community” –  Zuzana Fratrikova, CEO/Founder

More about Mama2Mama Baby Essentials

Through partnerships with health visitors, children’s centres, refuges, and social services across Greenwich, Mama2Mama Baby Essentials makes sure that help reaches those who need it most: single-parent families on tight budgets, mothers fleeing domestic violence, and working parents increasingly caught between rising costs and stagnant wages.

At their welcoming community café, families can discreetly access essentials like nappies, formula, and toiletries, while also connecting with others in a supportive environment.

More here 

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Community

Rugby for Good / The Mizen Foundation

July 2, 2025By

Creating a safer world with young people

The Mizen Foundation, established in memory of Jimmy Mizen, who tragically lost his life to violence in 2008, works to promote Forgiveness, Peace & Hope among young people.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation have long supported the Mizen Foundation’s charitable work through For Jimmy, contributing a total of £20,000 to initiatives including Safe Havens and Young Citizens.

In 2018, we shared a memorable milestone when the Foundation’s £5,000 donation to For Jimmy marked the Axis Foundation’s £1 million total in charitable giving.

Now, in 2025, we are proud one again support the Mizen Foundation by donating £5,000 to their Rugby for Good initiative.

Rugby for Good tournaments are powerful and positive platforms for under-18s to come together, connect through sport, and build life skills rooted in teamwork, discipline, and community spirit. The tournaments are held primarily at Sidcup RFC, with additional matches across Bromley, Gravesend, and Lewisham/Greenwich, benefiting around 250–300 young people each year.

Thanking the Axis Foundation Barry Mizen, father of Jimmy Mizen and co-founder of the Foundation, said: “We are deeply grateful to the Axis Foundation for their continued belief in our work and their generosity in funding this year’s Rugby for Good tournaments. This support means we can cover the essential costs, ensuring the events are safe, inclusive, and inspiring for every young person who takes part. These tournaments are about so much more than rugby, they’re about resilience, connection, and creating spaces where young people feel valued and supported. With Axis Foundation’s help, we can continue to make a lasting difference in our communities.”

The Axis Foundation’s donation will support:

  • Venue hire
  • Food and refreshments for participants
  • Trophies and medals
  • First aid and physiotherapy support
  • Event signage and banners
  • Match balls

There’s more about the Mizen Foundation here 

 

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Community

Swale Community Care Project

July 25, 2024By

Helping relieve poverty and financial hardship

Swale Community Care Project helps relieve poverty and financial hardship in the Swale area, as well as supporting local elderly people.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £4,615 will be used to purchase kitchen equipment for their new community cafe. The cafe will provide a safe warm space where those in need can find company, food and clothing as well as information about services and service providers.

“Many thanks for the amazing news. We are grateful for the Axis Foundation’s support. The kitchen equipment is the heart of the cafe and our community services. The equipment will make a massive difference to the physical and mental health of our service users.

“With your help, we hope to create a collaborative space that becomes an integral part of the community to enable a warm meal, rest bite, warmth and a smile / laugh in a safe space” – Daniel Marsh, Trustee

The kitchen equipment to be purchased with our donation includes: a commercial microwave and toaster, an auto-fill water boiler and filter, a fridge, a freezer, dishwasher, air fryers and other fixtures.

Update from Swale Community Care Project 2025

“We wanted to say a big thank you for the opportunity and faith in our small local charity that has made a significant impact in supporting us open and continue to provide a range of services to those in need.

Whilst most [of the grant] was allocated to key kitchen equipment it has enabled us to provide an affordable menu, pay it forward free meals and daily free use of our community fridge and freezer.

Since our opening in October 2024 we have served 899 hot meals and 1408 hot drinks (excluding cold lunches and snacks). The community fridge and freezer are used daily by locals accessing donated food. Your support has enabled us to host sessions for Age UK, Dementia support, wellbeing counselling, MIND workshops, money matters sessions, Sateda Domestic Abuse meetings, Foster Carer support, Sittingbourne & Sheerness Helping Ukraine group sessions and many others.

All would not have been possible without support from organisations such as yours. So thank you again for investing in and supporting your local community.”

More about Swale Community Care Project

There’s more about the work of this new charity, Swale Community Care Project, here

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Community

Clothing Collective

June 26, 2024By

Gift Cards help provide clothing for those in need

Clothing Collective distributes Charity Retail Association (CRA) gift cards to homeless people, impoverished families, refugees, the elderly and ex-offenders, so they can purchase clothing at local charity shops.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were pleased provide an award of £4,000 to Clothing Collective to purchase 200 £20 CRA vouchers.

“Our warm heartfelt thanks to the Board of Trustees of the Axis Foundation for so generously providing our charity with this grant. We are extremely grateful.

“Without such funding we would not be able to finance what our charity is set up to achieve: to relieve the effects of poverty, improve health and well-being, and to give people a sense of dignity that will allow them to advance their lives.

“We expect the outcome of this grant to include warmth and well-being for homeless people and impoverished families, and the confidence for ex-offenders and disadvantaged jobseekers to dress for success” – Antony Wroe, Chief Executive

More about Clothing Collective

There are over 13 million British people living in poverty (one in every five people), and between three and four thousand rough sleepers on any one night. Many cannot afford clean clothing which not only provides warmth, but also plays a critical role including at job interviews or educational opportunities.

To date, Clothing Collective has distributed over 4,900 clothing vouchers to 2,600 people in need by partnering with over thirty food banks, shelters and help centres in London.

The benefits are threefold:

  • By distributing the gift cards through food banks, shelters and help centres, Clothing Collective makes their partners’ services even more attractive to users
  • Beneficiaries can purchase warm, clean, well-fitting clothing that suits their needs
  • Charity shops who redeem the CRA vouchers can use the funds to serve their own charitable initiatives

“I work in one of the most deprived London boroughs, where Clothing Collective represents a lifeline. For those for whom a winter coat or a pair of gloves is a luxury and not something that’s taken for granted, Clothing Collective helps to bridge the gap and keep these people warm. And in doing so, their vouchers also help local charity shops that go on to do invaluable work in the community” – Southwark social worker

There’s more about Clothing Collective here

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Care

Lewisham Donation Hub

May 2, 2024By

Supporting People in Lewisham

Lewisham Donation Hub provides food, homeware and essential items to local people including residents at Lewisham Park Towers where Axis is currently working.

Axis staff member, Jill Pennell, put the charity forward for the donation and said: “I’ve been supporting the Hub for the last couple of years – taking clothes, footwear, bedding etc on their Sunday donation day (1-4pm by Lewisham Fire Station). Knowing my unwanted items are going to those who have nothing – or very little – not only makes me feel good but is an incentive to get rid of things that I don’t wear or use any more. They’re always short of everything as the demand is so high – my friends are used to me hassling them to have a clear out for things I can take there!”

The Axis Foundation Trustees were delighted to support Jill’s application in an area of London where we are highly visible and our donation will make a real impact: our £3,000 will purchase electrical equipment for the charity to distribute.

“Lewisham Donation Hub is so grateful for the £3,000 grant from the Axis Foundation! We believe we can reduce household costs by providing low-power / efficient electricals (particularly microwaves, rice cookers, slow cookers, kettles and blenders) to people suffering hardship. These items help families and individuals to live more comfortably at home, and avoid relying upon ad-hoc meals from community services (or spending limited money on ready-to-eat foods)” -–  Magdalena Szlenkier, Trustee and Volunteer, Lewisham Donation Hub

And there’s more

We extended our support with a further donation to purchase 9 microwaves. The hub often discovers people not being able to cook chilled or frozen food, as they have no facilities to cook them.

“A BIG thank you to the entire Axis team for enabling us to purchase the microwaves. The last support instance today was for a woman without resource to public funds that the mental health team at Lewisham Hospital were endeavouring to assist. Your funding means that tonight, for the first time in many months, she can eat warm food at home. More importantly (as the mental health team highlighted), little gestures like this often have outsized impacts on those suffering mental health crises.”

We additionally delivered 11 laptops to the hub –  old Axis IT equipment that will be repaired and donated to residents in need of a device. And during Recycling Week 2024 we organised an e-waste drive to further support the hub.

There’s more about their work here

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Community

Bexhill Men’s Shed

February 23, 2024By

Sharing skills and friendship

Bexhill Men’s Shed provides a space to combat loneliness and isolation. Here men (and women) can access tools, workbenches, skills and opportunities to make and mend in the company of others. Whilst using their practical skills and learning new ones, they make new friends.

The Axis Foundation was pleased to donate £2,000 to Bexhill Men’s Shed to ensure they remain self-sustaining, available and accessible to all.

“How delighted we are at Bexhill Men’s Shed to have been awarded this grant from Axis Foundation. We are grateful that you are helping us in this way. The money donated will certainly go towards ensuring that we are able to become self-sustaining by the end of this year, which is our aim” – Derek Merkl, Chairman/Trustee

More about Bexhill Men’s Shed

Bexhill Men’s Shed provides a workshop space where men (and women) in Bexhill can use and share their practical skills and life experiences to support each other, working side by side and producing and repairing items.The service users here have made Infant School Play equipment, garden benches/tables, Hedgehog houses and many other items to raise funds to remain self-sustaining.

There are 1,000 Men’s Sheds in the United Kingdom. They aim to help alleviate the high rates of suicide, depression, and loneliness amongst elder men.

There’s more here

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group of young children reading booksCommunity

Wimbledon Bookfest

February 9, 2024By

Giving 2,000 children a free book to take home

Schoolchildren attending Wimbledon Bookfest World Book Day events in March 2024 can go home with a free book, thanks to the Axis Foundation’s donation of £10,000.

“Developing a love of reading for pleasure is incredibly important and has a lifelong impact on a child’s prospects. Children who attend BookFest events and go home with own copy of the book leave feeling inspired and excited about literature. We are incredibly grateful to the Axis Foundation for their generous donation; helping us to inspire and encourage the next generation of readers” – Fiona Razvi, Festival Director

As one teacher said: “The best part is children getting a copy of the book with each ticket; the next few weeks at school ALL children in the same class are reading the same book which leads to some great book talk and discussion and encourages their love and enthusiasm for reading” – Holy Trinity C of E Primary School

“The Axis Foundation is delighted to support Wimbledon Bookfest. We supported Bookfest because we believe that encouraging young people to read – for both pleasure and education – is vitally important. Giving every child who attends the World Book Day events is a real pleasure for us and we hope through our donation to help Bookfest inspire the next generation of readers” – Michael Hayes, Trustee of the Axis Foundation

More about Wimbledon BookFest

Wimbledon BookFest is a not-for-profit arts and education charity which runs a year round programme of events aimed at supporting literacy in schools and fostering the next generation of readers. Events for schoolchildren and young people include World Book Day events with children’s authors, an Introduction to University day for older students, the Wimbledon BookFest Young Writers Competition, and a series of school events during its annual ten day autumn Festival.  Last year over 13,000 schoolchildren attended BookFest events.  Find out more here

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Group of people holding bags at St AmbroseCommunity

St Ambrose Barlow Church

January 30, 2024By

Providing warmth and comfort

The Café at St Ambrose Barlow Church provides a safe and warm space for local people. Here they can enjoy complimentary meals and refreshment, a sense of community and belonging, as well as crafts and activities.

The Axis Foundation donated £1,000 so that Saint Ambrose Barlow Church could purchase 60 Warm Packs to keep their guests keep warm this winter (2023).

“The grant from the Axis Foundation has allowed us to provide 60 warm packs in the space of two weeks to all in our community who asked for one. From young families, to people who lived on their own and the elderly, everyone went home thrilled with their bag of goodies – a cosy warm blanket, a hot water bottle, a travel cup, a hat, scarf and gloves so they would be warm in and outside of the home!” – Hayley Haughton, Community Engagement and Support Worker

“I was thrilled to get my warm pack, I am going to use the hot water bottle and travel cup together so i only boil the kettle once to save money and energy and then snuggle down in my blanket with my knitting!” – Recipient

More about the café at St Ambrose Barlow Church

The community café at St Ambrose Barlow Church is a lifeline for some people who have fallen through the cracks of the social welfare system; are struggling with the cost of living crisis or who are seeking a safe space to meet others and combat isolation. Located in the Parish Hall, the Community Café aims to reduce the impact of poverty and to help their guests maximise their income. They provide complimentary meals, activities and signposting for additional support to over 50 people a week and also recently distributed warm packs to 30 families.

There’s more here

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