Disability

Woodlarks Camp Site Trust

July 2, 2025By

Disability is no barrier to adventure

Woodlarks Camp Site Trust’s focus on accessibility ensures that disability need not be a barrier to adventure. Anyone, whatever their physical or cognitive ability, can enjoy camping and outdoor activities in their12-acre woodland setting.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support their application and donated £4,965 so they can purchase another accessible tent.

The tent allows plenty of room for users to have profiling beds (if required), hoist access and plenty of storage space for the essential equipment that comes with so many of their more complex campers. Each tent can accommodate six to eight people at a time, so many more people with disability will benefit from the joys of accessible camping.

That is brilliant news, THANK YOU! You have no idea how grateful we are to you for this grant, it will make an enormous difference to our users” – Nick Richards, Warden

More about Woodlarks

Over the last 25 years, Woodlarks volunteers have developed a facility that will meet the needs and risk assessments of any organisation that co-ordinates holidays or short breaks for people with disabilities. Examples of their adjustments include:

  • hoists at the swimming pool and in changing rooms
  • height-adjustable changing tables and private showers in pool changing rooms
  • accessible showers and toilets
  • height-adjustable tilting bath and nine profiling beds, all accessible by ceiling hoists
  • new accessible food prep and cook house area
  • wheelchair-accessible tarmacked paths
  • tents on wheelchair-accessible timber tent bases

More about their work here

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Disability

New Accessible Garden for Connor

July 2, 2025By

With our help, Connor can now access and enjoy his garden in his wheelchair

Michaela Palmer works for Axis as our Fleet Administrator. Her son Connor has cerebral palsy and could not access his garden in his wheelchair as it was not flat enough.

She applied to the Foundation after our Ears and Eyes campaign invited employees to put forward suggestions/applications for the Trustees’ consideration. And our Trustees were delighted to fund new paving in the garden. Axis’subcontractor M&R conducted the works, laying new paving and making the garden accessible to Connor.

Michaela said:“You have no idea how much difference this has made to my son. I honestly cannot thank you enough. No words can explain the difference this has already made to Connor!!! This has completely lifted his mindset so, so much. I am really hoping this is the start of his recovery.

“Being able to hang his laundered clothes on the washing line is a huge difference for him. Something he could not access before. He is already using the garden every day: he takes his morning coffee outside and sits in the sun with the dog (Dutch). They are both loving the garden. And it has already made a significant change to Connor’s mindset and mental health.

“The finished garden enables Connor to be more independent, which is what he has always wanted. He hates having to rely on someone to help him. But it also means it will free up some of my time as I won’t have to go and do the jobs that he could not manage to do.

“We have now painted the fences, added some solar lights, a BBQ, garden furniture and a sail shade for Dutch.

“As I said before I cannot put into words how extremely grateful, we both are to the Axis Foundation. When I got the email to say my application had been accepted, I cried!!!! It just was a huge weight lifted!”

Connor told us: “I’m so grateful to be able to use my garden now, it’s made such a difference having a flat surface.It was really depressing not being able to go out there and now I can use it and enjoy the sun when it shines. My dog Dutch used to dig holes, and it was hard to pick up his waste as I couldn’t reach with my wheelchair so it got overwhelming to a point where I just had to leave it there. Now I can pick it up so much easier. And when it rains his paws don’t get muddy: in the past I had to wipe his paws before he came back into the house after it had rained as they were full of mud.

“It’s already made a huge difference to my lifestyle and I can enjoy sitting out here and I can even put my laundry up to dry without anyone’s help. My wheelchair can get to every spot in the garden now so easily so I’m excited for summer time to enjoy it fully.

“The Axis and M&R  team were great, they were so professional with everything and it was nice to have them here.”

Mick Hayes, Axis Foundation Trustee said: “When we received Michaela’s application through our Ears and Eyes campaign, we were very moved by Connor’s plight and were delighted to assist with funding to creating a pathway in his garden so that he can get out and enjoy life outside with his dog Dutch. As you can see, the impact on Connor’s life is profound and immediate – a truly great example of how our Foundation can change a life.”

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Disability

Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association

March 12, 2025By

Improving lives and outcomes for people with Down Syndrome through music

Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association is committed to improving lives, opportunities and outcomes for people with Down Syndrome.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation agreed to a donation of £3592.95 to fund the purchase of musical equipment to support their Music Man Project.

Music Man Project offers specialised musical education and performance opportunities specifically tailored for individuals with Down syndrome and other learning disabilities. It culminates in a televised performance at the Royal Albert Hall.

“This is wonderful news. Thank you for this generous grant which will enable us to purchase our very own instruments, making logistics much easier for the group and increasing our sense of ownership over the project.

“We will now be much better equipped to deliver our music sessions, giving the whole group more autonomy and confidence over what we do.

“Please pass our thanks on to Axis Team for their support for our project which will enable us to continue with our commitment to make music sessions and performance opportunities accessible to people with a learning disability” – Rachael Ross MBE, Chair

More about Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association

Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association ASSOCIATION provides friendship, information and a wide range of some of the UK’s best specialist educational services and social opportunities for children and young adults with Down syndrome.

Portsmouth Down Syndrome Association gained Freedom of the City of Portsmouth for their ‘outstanding social contribution to our community’ whilst Chair Rachael Ross was awarded an MBE on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to education and Down syndrome.

There’s more here 

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Disability

Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre

March 12, 2025By

Two Mercado Real 9000 chairs help people with MS and Parkinson’s

The Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre provides tailored physiotherapy-led exercise classes helping people with neurological conditions such as MS and Parkinson’s, and stroke survivors, be active and lead independent lives.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to donate £7,222 to enable the Surrey-based charity to purchase two Mercado Real 9000 chairs.

The Mercado Real 9000 electric chairs are fully adjustable, with ergonomic back and armrests, and are proven to help members with neurological conditions take part in exercises that will help with their co-ordination, core-strength and flexibility.

Thanking the Foundation, Bonnita Apperley, Trusts and Grants Fundraiser, said: “As a result of your donation, more members will be able to take part in our full range of classes, to help them keep active, so that they can keep as well as can be whilst they manage their symptoms and disability. Thank you.”

More about The Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre

The Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre currently has 108 active members, and this number is growing by between two and three people a week.

They offer their members a wide variety of activity classes in their bespoke neuro gym, as well as valuable social time, in a supportive and caring environment which helps them to make friends, connect with others, and feel positive, whilst managing their lifelong condition.

There’s more here

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Disability

Down Syndrome Development Trust

March 12, 2025By

Specialist equipment to support children with Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome Development Trust provides support services and short break activities for children and young people with Down Syndrome and other disabilities, aiming to foster their personal and social development while promoting community inclusivity.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to make a donation of £5,231 to the Sussex-based charity so they could purchase a folding massage table and a compact folding hoist to assist wheelchair-bound SEN members, as well as a sensory room projector providing a fully mobile sensory experience.

“Thank you so much for your donation which will purchase secialist mobile equipment to accommodate children and young people with special educational needs who rely on wheelchairs – and ensure our Short Break activities continue to be fully accessible and inclusive” – Rebekah Foster, Operations/Office Manager

More about Down Syndrome Development Trust

The Sussex-based charity Down Syndrome Development Trust aims to foster the personal and social development of children with Down Syndrome and other special educational needs promote community inclusivity too. Over the past decade, Down Syndrome Development Trust has supported over 5,000 children and their families.

Their education service offers creative and employability projects at their Social-Learning Hub in Brighton, alongside physical and leisure activities in surrounding communities. These regular sessions equip CYP with vital skills, experience, and confidence for better societal integration.

There’s more here

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Disability

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity

March 12, 2025By

Bringing stories vividly to life for children with cerebral palsy

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity supports children with cerebral palsy, chromosome abnormalities and rare genetic disorders that cause physical impairment.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to make a donation of £500 so the charity could purchase Bag Books. These contain a short story and physical props with which children interact, bringing the whole story to life and making it a much more sensory and powerful experience for them.

“Traditional storybooks are not accessible to children with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD). So, I want to thank you the Trustees of the Axis Foundation for your kind decision to fund Bag Books for our children. This really will make the world of difference to the children we support, allowing them to enjoy story time in their sessions” – Glenys Creese, CEO

More about Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity helps children under five years with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments make the best possible start in life – giving the children as much independence as possible and giving families the support and skills to continue their development at home.

Many of their children have additional needs such as visual and hearing impairments, speech and language difficulties and issues with eating, drinking, and respiration. Some may be life-limited and all have conditions that affect the development of their cognitive, communication, and social skills.

There’s more here 

 

Photo: ‘The Little Seed’ Bag Book has many interactive elements for children, including smells and things to touch

 

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Disability

Jude Keil

March 12, 2025By

Donation buys therapeutic exercise trainer for young boy confined to wheelchair

Just before he reached 10, Jude Keil was a normal active and growing young boy. He was an excellent cyclist and swimmer, regularly completing 10 miles off roading with his Dad and could happily snorkel for hours, chasing fish in the sea.

But in July 2022 his parents, Emma and Peter, noticed Jude was experiencing a shortness of breath. More complications followed and in February 2023, eventually his nervous system broke down and prevented him from breathing, moving or talking on his own.

After 11 months at The Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Jude is now confined to a wheelchair, reliant on a tracheostomy and a ventilator to breathe. He communicates by eye movements. His condition still has no name, and it may well be that he is the world’s only sufferer. The closest the medical profession can come to diagnosis is that it an unknown type of motor polyneuropathy.

Emma and Peter reached out to the Axis Foundation for help – and our Trustees were delighted to make a donation of £3,600 to enable them to purchase a therapeutic MotoMed Loop exercise bike for Jude.

Peter told our Trustees: “Thank you so much. This is fantastic news, not only for Jude but for us as a family. Jude always has been a great cyclist and in The Evelina hospital he was able to use a MotoMed machine so well. With this machine we will be able to ‘ride’ again together, albeit indoors or in the garden (when it finally gets warmer!).

“In the last 2 years we have seen and learnt so much. We have learnt that having the right tools for recovery is not only vital but so expensive.

“The likelihood of Jude having a full recovery is unknown due to the rarity of his condition. But we are determined to make sure he lives, rather than exists. He is now showing signs of nerve triggering to his muscles and requires complex and detailed physiotherapy.

With his current response to basic physiotherapy we believe that equipment such as the MotoMed would enable a significant muscle engagement. This will give Jude the chance to perhaps even stand or walk again! We are so grateful Jude has been selected for this award.”

You can find out more and support Jude directly here

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Disability

Helping Disabilities Trust

December 12, 2024By

Home therapy for children with disability

Helping Disabilities Trust supplies – free of charge – toys and specialist equipment to disabled children

The Axis Foundation was delighted to award the London charity with £5,000 to buy specialist equipment, namely a waterbed, a weighted blanket, a sensory ball pool, a sensory bubble tube, a resonance rocker, a dream drum and a kinetic wonder wall.

“This picture shows your sensory bubble tube in usage by a girl suffering from autism. The family is very grateful to you for granting us the funding to purchase this. Although they can’t thank you enough, they will be grateful forever for the calm and serenity that you have brought into their lives.

“Helping Disabilities Trust is delighted and enormously grateful to the Trustees of the Axis Foundation for providing us with a donation of £5,000. On behalf of Helping Disabilities, I would like to thank you and all those involved in the Axis Foundation for partnering with us to improve the lives of disabled children” – Moishe Bodner, Chair

More about Helping Disabilities Trust

Helping Disabilities Trust’s “Equipped and Enabled” project supplies – on loan completely free of charge – specialist equipment to 100 disabled children and their families. This makes home therapy a reality, improves life skills and enables children to reach their full potential minus the costs.

There’s more about Helping Disabilities Trust here 

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Disability

Camp Jojo

December 12, 2024By

Camping freedom for children with disability

Camp Jojo helps children with complex needs and disabilities – many have life limiting conditions or reduced life expectancy – to enjoy a totally accessible, family-centred camping experience

The Axis Foundation was delighted to donate £5800 to Camp Jojo so they could buy two Alaska Size 1 tents.

With these specialist tents, Essex-based Camp Jojo can safely accommodate children with the most complex needs who need hoisting for moving and handling, and their families.

“At Camp Jojo, our motto is ‘everyone can’. Our visitors realise their potential through experiences they may have never previously thought possible. I can’t thank the Axis Foundation and your Trustees enough – you’ve made my weekend! This will mean so much to our families” – Helen Davies, Camp Jojo Fundraiser

Camp Jojo Patron Sally Philips (Alan Partridge, Bridget Jones, Smack the Pony, Green Wing, and Miranda) says: “Going on holiday with children who have additional needs is a challenge at the best of times. How wonderful it is that Camp Jojo has made it possible for families of children with complex needs to get away and enjoy a traditional, family,camping holiday singing around the campfire, sleeping in tents, getting muddy, toasting marshmallows and eating baked beans.”

There’s more about Camp Jojo here

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Disability

Red Eagle Foundation – Lyla

December 12, 2024By

Mobility and independence for child with rare genetic condition

Our donation to Red Eagle Foundation helps buy a specialist walker for Lyla

Lyla Treeby is two years and has a rare genetic condition which affects her muscle tone in all four limbs and trunk. She is impaired visually and unable to sit or roll by herself.

Lyla enjoys movements and is keen to explore, using her arms and legs when supported. Red Eagle want her to enjoy these movements in a safe way. And so they trialled her in a supportive walker called My Way from Leckey. This walker supported her well in her trunk and allowed her to use her legs better for moving around with assistance.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support Red Eagle’s application with a donation of £2910 to the Red Eagle Foundation to help buy a Lecky My Way walker for Lyla.

“This is a fantastic piece of equipment for Lyla as she can explore her space in a safe way and overcome her motor and visual disability. Lyla’s parents and I are very grateful to the Axis Foundation for their support. This equipment will be well used at home giving Lyla the independence to move around without being held all the time” – Dominic Comins, CEO

More about The Red Eagle Foundation

The Red Eagle Foundation empowers disadvantaged children and grants wishes to children with life-limiting illnesses. The Axis Foundation has previously supported Red Eagle Foundation and helped to buy an electric wheelchair and all-terrain buggy for Arthur, a young boy with severe learning disabilities and complex health needs.

There’s more about their work here 

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