Disability

Axis Employee helps deaf children and their families

April 24, 2023By

Axis QS helps deaf children with Foundation grant

Axis’ Jocelyn Tritton, a Trainee Quantity Surveyor working on our Croydon contract, supports The Dorset Deaf Children’s Society (DDCS) – and applied to the Foundation on their behalf.

The Axis Foundation’s grant of £3274.50 made to DDCS on behalf of Jocelyn will buy 150 Phonak Junior paediatric hearing aid care kits. The kits will help deaf children in Dorset for years to come by teaching and enabling them to maintain their hearing aids.

Jocelyn is passionate about helping the hearing-impaired lead a normal life. This is because Jocelyn’s mum is profoundly deaf, which stems from a horse-riding accident at a young age. Jocelyn’s family started learning British Sign Language last year to better include his mum in family life. He was overjoyed by how much communication improved; and this inspired him to help other families with deaf members to learn BSL too.

Thanking the Foundation Jocelyn said: “Growing up it was always a struggle to communicate with mum, who has 30% hearing in her left ear and near zero in her right, but I couldn’t see how things would ever change. Then the family discovered BSL and, all of a sudden, we could hold normal conversations! I wanted to help out other families with hearing-impaired members and raising funds for the small yet impactful DDCS by running a marathon seemed perfect. Overall, I’m delighted the Axis Foundation agreed to donate over £3000 to purchase hearing aid care kits!”

Jocelyn additionally ran the Milton Keynes Marathon raising £6222 for DDCS!

“We cannot thank Jocelyn enough for the work and effort he is putting in to raise money for our deaf children. We are a small local charity run by volunteers and without the support of people like Jocelyn we could not continue to support the deaf children and their families, providing them with somewhere to go to meet and make friends with children just like themselves. The money Jocelyn is raising is so important for us and we are very grateful’ – Shirley Sorbie, DCSS

More about DDCS

DDCS is an all-volunteer charity which helps children with mild to profound deafness by providing them with hearing equipment and BSL grants. DDCS events connect deaf families, including them in a community which understands their struggles, and serves as an important point of contact where families with deaf children can receive advice, as well as talk to and support each other. There’s more here

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Disability

Bolton Deaf Society

April 24, 2023By

Protecting deaf people from scams

Bolton Deaf Society provides an accessible information and advocacy service for deaf and deafened people primarily in Bolton and surrounding areas.

The Axis Foundation has donated £3,500 to Bolton Deaf Society to help protect deaf and deafened people from scams. This project which will benefit deaf people and professionals working with deaf people across the UK, will include training dedicated Scambassadors and the production of e-materials and webinars.

“Our Deaf-inclusive scams awareness work ensures that deaf people in all their diversity are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves from scams. We are super grateful for the Axis Foundation’s support – John Hesketh CEO

More about Bolton Deaf Society

A full range of services includes translating documentation to BSL, completing forms, making telephone calls and appointments, booking Interpreters, preparing benefit appeals, pursuing help with legal costs, and providing support for training and employment. The society additionally supports social groups including Darby and Joan and a choir and delivers Deaf/Interpreter Awareness and BSL training to public sector service providers, and Deaf Inclusive Employment courses to employers.

 

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Disability

Sailability at Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club

April 24, 2023By

Our donation brings enjoyment of sailing to people with disability

Sailability at Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club Ltd gives all local people with a disability across East Sussex the opportunity to sail, to gain confidence on the water and develop new skills, so improving mental and physical health and wellbeing. They offer accessibility to sailing and boating for those with a disability and 20% of their participants are wheelchair users

The Axis Foundation’s donation of  £9,800 means Sailability can purchase a new specially-designed Hansa dinghy so a sailor can take those with a disability out on the water.

“A new dinghy will help us offer a better experience to participants, to grow as a group, meet the increasing demand for sailing and thus offer more participants with disabilities the opportunity to experience sailing and its many benefits”  – Chris Turner, Sailability Lead

More about Sailability

Sailability (a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) initiative) was founded at Newhaven and Seaford in 2021 and last year helped 32 participants over 124 sessions enjoy the benefits of sailing. This number is growing. They operate within Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club Ltd (not for profit), a registered Sailability Centre, as part of their RYA Training Centre. Their boats are in full use for much of the year, sailing on an inland lake at Piddinghoe East Sussex.
There’s more here 

 

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Disability

Axis employee applies to Foundation to help resident with MS

April 24, 2023By

Helping MS sufferer write her book supporting other sufferers and their carers

Elma Gredelj, Axis Resident Liaison Officer, helped Anna, an MS sufferer, by applying to the Axis Foundation. As a result of Elma’s application, the Axis Foundation donated £300 and purchased a laptop for Anna so she can complete a book about her experiences of MS to help other sufferers and their carers too.

More about Elma’s application

Whilst conducting cyclical works on behalf of our client, Elma met Notting Hill Genesis resident, Anna. Anna wants to write a book to support others who suffer from MS. But as she was unable to access a laptop, Anna was writing it out by hand.

Elma tells the story of their friendship here:

“I met Anna whilst conducting window surveys for the Notting Hill Genesis contract. Once I got speaking with Anna it felt like we knew each other for years. I was very moved by her life story. She shared her positive and negative experiences of being a young lady with MS. She had so many goals that she wanted to accomplish but was very limited due to not having the facilities to do so. One of her main dreams was to write a book to raise awareness for MS. By having limited facilities to do this she has struggled to progress further in this.

“I felt like I couldn’t walk away from that property without trying to help this young lady and reward her for the confidence and strength she has shown to open up to me and share her heart-breaking experiences.

“I contacted the Axis Foundation and applied for a laptop for Anna to help her with her dream of writing a book. This was accepted and I felt so happy for her because I knew how much this would mean to her. I delivered the Laptop to Anna, and she was speechless and felt like ‘her dreams came true’.

“I want to advise anyone working with residents if you find that you can go that extra mile to help someone then please do apply through the Axis Foundation; the sense of reward it made me feel to help someone achieve their lifetime dream especially for such an important topic to raise awareness and knowing this will have an impact for many individuals, it was well worth it !

I wish Anna all the best: and want her to keep her head held high. She’s an inspiration.”

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Disability

The Woodland Centre Trust (Camp Mohawk)

January 20, 2023By

Providing work experience for children with cognitive and physical disabilities

Through Camp Mohawk, The Woodland Centre Trust offers secure, supportive and stimulating woodland space to over 1,000 children and young people with a wide range of cognitive and physical disabilities every year.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation awarded a grant of a grant of £5,000 to The Woodland Centre Trust towards a small cafe/ tuck shop for their ” Working Together” work experience project at Camp Mohawk.

“On behalf of the Trustees and management team of Camp Mohawk I’d like to offer our sincere thanks to the Axis Foundation for your support for children and young people with special needs… The addition of a cafe is going to provide fantastic work experience opportunities for our young people and this fantastic new provision will be beneficial to all our families attending. Many of our children and their famiies have experienced extreme isolation and exclusion during the pandemic. They will benefit tremendously from the inclusive play, social interaction, learning opportunities and support that Camp Mohawk provides” – Charlotte Webb, Fundraising Manager

More about Working Together

For some young people with cognitive and physical disabilities, finding work experience that meets their needs is very difficult so Camp Mohawk creates structured opportunities within its familiar environment. For the first stage of this project they propose to provide customer service work experience by creating a small cafe/tuck shop on site to serve the needs of visitors. The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support this project.

More about The Woodland Centre Trust (Camp Mohawk)

Based in Berkshire, The Woodland Centre Trust supports children, young people and families affected by a variety of diagnosed conditions including Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC), Downs Syndrome, sight and/or hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, brain injury, genetic disorders and various other life-limiting inherited, acquired or medical conditions. Whilst the majority of visitors come from  Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and West London, the service is open to all who might benefit from the experience. Schemes include Family Support, Short Breaks, Shared Play and Open Sessions.
In addition, the centre provides:

  • facilities which stimulate co-ordination, communication, socialisation and imagination
  • educational and recreational projects that help equip young people with special needs for eventual independent living
  • support network for young carers whose siblings have special needs
  • support for whole families affected by special needs to reduces stress and isolation and improve quality of life
  • a superb venue for local voluntary disability support groups, special schools and care centres.

There’s more here 

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Disability

Incredible Kids

January 19, 2023By

Providing toys and accessible activities for children with additional needs and disabilities

Bristol-based charity Incredible Kids enables children and young people with additional needs and disabilities to make friends, have fun, and play, increasing their mental wellbeing, and improving their confidence and social skills. Parents set up the charity to support each other and help reduce the social isolation typically felt by 72% of families with a disabled child.*

The Axis Foundation donated £1,000 towards purchasing new ‘bright and engaging’ toys and an accessible activity table for approximately 500 children.

“The funding from the Axis Foundation has already transformed our sessions with a new wheelchair-accessible activity table and a whole host of beautiful new toys and activities for the children at Incredible Kids to enjoy. We are so grateful for the opportunity to add new toys for the families that visit us. Thank you Axis!” – Jennie Prewett, Trustee

More about Incredible Kids

Incredible Kids offers support for the whole family in order to reduce feelings of isolation and increase overall mental wellbeing of disabled children, their siblings, and their parents/carers.

In 2019, 600 families accessed Incredible Kids’ services. Numbers of individuals attending have more than doubled since COVID-19 (from 1000 individual members to 2200).Through their own data collection, in-person interviews, and online surveys Incredible Kids show that after attending their sessions:

  • 83% of parents and carers made friends,
  • 76% of disabled children made friends.
  • 89% of families said they no longer feel isolated.

*The Hidden Isolation Report commissioned by Contact a Family states that “72% of families with a disabled child will experience mental ill health such as anxiety, depression or breakdown due to isolation.”

There’s more about their work here

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Disability

Gift of freedom and mobility 

September 13, 2022By

Chloe O Donnell witnessed the devastating effects of isolation and loss of mobility on local resident Ashley Clarke.

Chloe is a Site Manager at Axis Europe. She and her team were carrying out major repairs and maintenance works on the west London estate where Ashley lives: once she had seen Ashley’s plight, assessed the situation and established what would help Ashley most, Chloe applied to the Axis Foundation asking for help.

As a result of Chloe’s recommendations, the Axis Foundation bought Ashley a power-assisted wheelchair.  Axis also fitted new automatic doors to accommodate the new chair.

Thanking the Foundation Chloe said: ‘“Ashley is obviously thrilled and has asked me to pass on his immeasurable gratitude to all involved in the process.”

More about our donation

Ashley Clarke is a severely disabled gentleman. He has severe arthritis in both hands, is paralyzed down his left side and has also had his left leg amputated.

Ashley’s carers place him in his wheelchair from his bed every morning, but his disabilities (he cannot use his hands) mean he can only move the wheelchair using his right foot. He has been housebound for three years, and spent most of that time stuck in one room.

As a result of an application by Chloe O Donnell, Axis Site Manager, the Axis Foundation donated a power-assisted wheel chair to Ashley. And we also fitted new automatic front door: at the press of a button or fob, the door opens so Ashley can easily manoeuvre himself and the chair in and out of his home.

Thanking the Foundation Chloe said: ‘“Ashley is obviously thrilled and has asked me to pass on his immeasurable gratitude to all involved in the process.

“Ashley has reiterated how life-changing this is: the new chair enables him to move freely around the house and go to the local park/shop/pub. It also means he can take himself to and from appointments at the local hospital which is a 10 minute ride away in on the new chair so he doesn’t have to wait (sometimes up to six hours) for an NHS car to take him home.

“He said he’d got so used to shuffling round using his leg to move his wheelchair that he hadn’t quite realised how difficult his life had become: having the power-assisted chair is just amazing and makes everything so easy.

“The first thing he wanted to do with his new found freedom was to treat his friend, who’s been helping care for him, to a Sunday lunch.

“I also wanted to say thank you again to the Axis Foundation for the opportunity to change someone’s life and I hope the case study on this encourages other members of staff to apply.”

 

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Little girl and sister lying on rug togetherDisability

New Garden for Little Isabella

July 26, 2022By

Foundation makes garden accessible for Little Isabella

Little Isabella was diagnosed with a severe brain malformation when she was just three months old.Axis Resident Liaison Manager Cathy Weedon, who asked the Axis Foundation for help told us:

“Isabella loves to feel the wind blowing, it’s one of the things that makes her smile the biggest. For her to simply enjoy the sunshine in a lovely finished garden would be a miracle.”

And we were delighted to support Cathy’s application to remodel the family garden so that Isabella can enjoy her outside space. The Axis Foundation and supply chain partner City Plumbing Community Fund donated £6,550 to remodel Isabella’s family garden. Axis people in our Sittingbourne office will use their volunteering days to do the work.

Isabella’s story

Isabella was born in November 2013. Her family noticed soon after that she never cried or expressed emotions. They were deeply concerned despite being reassured by doctors that she was just a ‘good baby’. After suffering seizures, and in obvious pain, Isabella went to  Evelina Children’s Hospital for tests and urgent medical care.

Here she was diagnosed with a severe brain malformation called ‘subcortical band heteretopia’ which meant that she would not progress beyond her baby years. Her physical disabilities would be life-altering.

The family moved to a new home to accommodate caring for Isabella. They proceeded to make adaptations including levelling downstairs floors and the garden, adding a small extension and making all the rooms wheelchair accessible. And as Isabella grew and became heavier. they moved to a bungalow. But Isabella needed hoists, an adapted bath and bed, wider doorways and a ramp up to the front door to list just a few adaptations.

Local authority grants would not cover the entire costs and shortage of labour and COVID-19 meant severe delays and rises in costs. Isabella’s Nanna even sold her own home to fund the work.

Their main wish was that Isabella would be able to enjoy the garden  But the garden space and driveway were tiered and unsuitable for manoeuvring Isabella’s wheelchair. We are especially delighted that our donation will help Isabella enjoy her outside space which our volunteers will create.

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Disability

Perkisound

March 7, 2022By

Providing recreation and music for people on the autistic spectrum

Perkisound is a recreation centre which is particularly suitable for people on the autistic spectrum. Their outstanding music garden features bright and colourful tubular bells, cowbells, conga drums and a giant marimba.

The Axis Foundation donated £3,000 to help purchase a Duo Metallophone for the musical garden. A metallophone is like a xylophone, but with metal bars instead of wood. Up to four people can play and enjoy playing the Duo. Since its installation in March 2022 the Duo has become one of Perkisound’s most  popular pieces.

“We are so grateful for this donation from the Axis Foundation. The Duo Metallophone is a stunning piece and has really completed the outdoor music area. We believe this is now the best outdoor music garden in the UK. Families and specialised settings really benefit from outdoor activities within this safe environment and we look forward to welcoming 1000s of visitors over the year, enjoying exclusive use of the site, improving skills and enjoying safe recreation time” – Susie Perkins, Co Founder

Second donation

In 2023, the Trustees of the Axis Foundation agreed to a further donation to Perkisound. Our new award of £3,000 will provide handmade interior woodwork (planters, benches and tables) for The Butterfly Barn at Perkisound.

The Butterfly Barn is a new polytunnel, and, featuring nany colourful flowers and plants, will be home to many butterflies.and will provide a sensorily stimulating,  educational and therapeutic experience for visitors to Perkisound. It is scheduled to open in 2024. The Butterfly has been selected as a symbol by some autism organisations as It inspires thoughts of change from chrysalis to butterfly, and represents the beauty of diversity and continued development.

More About Perkisound

Tim and Susie Perkins founded Perkisound in 2017. They are both professional musicians and teachers. And they were inspired to start up the centre by their autistic son who is now a teenager who plays piano every day.

Situated in a semi-rural 2.5 acre site, close to Birmingham, Coventry and Nuneaton, Perkisound aims to promote general health and wellbeing, improve choice of leisure activity, reduce stress and loneliness and increase social networking for carers and families with additional needs. It currently supports 2,800 people. Their only requirement is that one member of the family or group booking a session here has additional needs.

More here

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Cycling club for disabled peopleDisability

Limited Edition Cycling Club 

March 7, 2022By

Helping disabled people access the many benefits of cycling.

The charity enhances disabled people’s lives by ensuring that disabled people and their families and carers can access the physical, emotional, practical and social benefits of cycling.

The Axis Foundation has donated £2,952 to help Limited Edition Cycling Club purchase a second container to store their bikes and equipment. The new container will additionally help the charity expand their range of bikes. And so they can offer more sessions to another 50+ riders.

“The container has made all the difference to our club. It means that we can store the bikes safely and not damage them by having to pile them on top of each other. We have received funding for new trikes and bikes but were not able to buy them as the single container we were using was filled to capacity. Now we can add to our range of bikes and so offer a wider choice to our members. We can increase our membership as well as adding more enjoyment for everyone.

“This second container has also made a huge difference to the volunteers. It is easier and safer to unpack the bikes at the beginning of the session and then store them at the end. I truly believe that we may have lost volunteers if the loading and unloading had not become easier.

“So, having happy volunteers means the club will continue and we will be able to support a group of cyclists and their families that we all feel really committed to. It has made more of a difference that you can possibly imagine” – Nicky Jarrett, Co-ordinator

More about Limited Edition Cycling Club

Limited Edition Cycling Club runs a pool of specially adapted bikes, including recumbents, trikes, handcycles, wheelchair bikes and more so that disabled people can enjoy the joys of riding a bike. They also offer standard two-wheelers so members and their families and carers can enjoy riding together. Trained cycling coaches and volunteers support all riders.

Members enjoy safe riding sessions in a traffic-free environment at Sutcliffe Park, SE9 where there are also disabled toilets and a cafeteria. The charity is based in Eltham in south east London. More here

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