disadvantaged

Offshoot Foundation

March 12, 2025By

Film making helps young people develop life skills

The Offshoot Foundation uses filmmaking to help disadvantaged young people develop life skills, raise their aspirations and reach their full potential. The young people they work with are often facing multiple barriers including poor mental health, additional needs including autism and ADHD, school refusal, caring responsibilities and living in areas of high deprivation.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support Offshoot with an award of £5,396 to enable them to purchase 4 iMacs. These provide an all-in-one computer with screen which is perfect for young people to use for their filmmaking. Purchasing them means that more young people can reap the benefits that Offshoot provides.

Thanking the Foundation, Paul Press, CEO, said:  “Thank you all for your wonderful donation to our charity. These iMacs will be able to help the many children we work with across East Anglia and London and, with our charity becoming bigger and more successful each year, it will mean they will be able to be used by even more young people as we grow.

“When I took these new iMacs to the Newmarket workshop and explained how we got them, the students could not believe that an organisation would do that for them, You could really see them feel that someone believes in them to make such a generous gesture and many of them  said thank you. They were in awe of the gesture.

“I look forward to sharing the Macs across our three Christmas workshops and spreading the news about Axis Generosity.  Thank you from Offshoot and all its young people.”

Here’s what one young film-maker said about their experience at Offshoot:

“It really helped improve my confidence and possibly give me some ideas for future interests such as jobs, college, GCSE choices. It really developed my social skills, and I made new friends.”

More here

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disadvantaged

Edge Ministries

March 12, 2025By

Garden tools to assist ‘forgotten people’ in recovery from addiction

The Edge Ministries has four centres helping ‘forgotten people’ in the most deprived across North East Derbyshire.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to donate £3,370 to the charity. The donation will purchase a polytunnel and gardening tools plus seeds, plants and compost for Edge Ministries’ Community Wellbeing Garden at Staveley.

As a result of our donation, over 75 people will benefit from the Wellbeing Garden which encourages gentle outside exercise, improves mental wellbeing and reduces isolation.

The Wellbeing Garden, which supports people who are struggling with their wellbeing and those in recovery from addiction, is open 24/7 365. Volunteers and a qualified gardener manage the garden.

Thanking the Foundation, Steve Martin, Chief Operations Manager said: this funding will make a huge difference in our ability to support people in recovery year round, by offering meaningful wellbeing activities in a friendly, safe and fun environment.  Thank you so much for the support of the Axis Foundation!”

More about Edge Ministries

The Edge Ministries provides a friendly welcome, access to free food and to professional free social welfare advice as well as a range of social inclusion activities designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing, and an Open Living Room.

Their mission is to be a place of welcome for all, and to work with people to make a change in their lives, helping themselves out of their current situation into a better future.

There’s more here 

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disadvantaged

Community Albums

March 12, 2025By

Inspiring young people through music

Community Albums inspires young people to learn how to play musical instruments. Through the transformative power of music they help bring about positive change and build better communities.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support Community Albums in their project in East Ham in the London Borough of Newham, where our parent company Axis is located. We donated £2,176 to help equip and develop a studio here where young people will be able to use percussion instruments and DJ Decks. 

We estimate that up to 50 young people will be impacted immediately and many more will benefit in the future: developing essential life skills, boosting confidence, enhancing emotional well-being and resilience, fostering a sense of belonging and self-worth, unlocking their creative potential and expanding their horizons.

Our donation bought:

  • Drum kit and drum sticks
  • DJ Decks
  • Percussion instruments (including Guiro, Cabasa, Maracas, Egg Shakers, Tambourine, Bar Chimes and Cahon)
  • Desk and chair 

Thanking the Foundation, Jan Sheldon, Operations Manager said: “That’s wonderful news for our East Ham studio!! Thanks so much to all at The Axis Foundation. School children in deprived areas face a stark inequity in access to arts-based learning, impacting their overall development and life opportunities. Music is sometimes the only way they can express themselves and is, for some, a gateway into writing, composition and more personal self-expression.

“The equipment will make a huge difference to what we are offering the young people at the studio. We can’t wait to buy it all and show them! Thanks again from all of us at Community Albums. You donation really is hugely appreciated!” 

More about Community Albums

Community Albums’ passion is to amplify voices and so help build better communities.  Two award-winning composers, musicians and music producers Rob May and Simon Hill (of music production company Sitting Duck) founded Community Albums in 2011. They believe music has the power to inspire, heal, empower, unite and bring about positive change.

Community Albums run 1-2-1 therapeutic music sessions for all members of the community and especially love to work with young people with disabilities and more complex needs; and teach digital music and DJing skills and instrument playing. They also create films that share stories, and offer mentoring and career support.

Community Albums run group and 1-2-1 therapeutic music sessions for all members of the community and especially love to work with children and young people with disabilities and more complex needs. These sessions include: singing, digital music and DJing skills and instrument playing. They also create films that share stories, and offer mentoring and career support.

There’s more here

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disadvantaged

Yantlet Residents’ Group 

December 12, 2024By

Garden pleasures for elderly and vulnerable people

Yantlet Residents’ Group helps 60 elderly and vulnerable people living in a sheltered housing complex connect and feel less isolated.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to help the group, based in Southend, with an award of £2,000. This sum will buy a new greenhouse for the gardens here, so that residents can grow their own plants, saving money whilst engaging in an enjoyable community activity.

Our donation will also support Yantlet Residents’ Group’s winter events programme. This includes a Christmas party for residents (with a raffle), and a Warm Hub where residents – some may be in financial hardship with no heating of their own at home – can relax and enjoy the comfort and safety it provides.

“Your very kind support we help us recover from last year’s vandalism where we lost £1,500 pounds worth of plants, trees and equipment which we need to replace. Your help has gone a long way to help us to move on. New security has given us peace of mind to move forward” – Leslie Parris, Chairman

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disadvantaged

Knight Support

December 12, 2024By

Chance to start again for homeless people and rough sleepers

Knight Support provides a vital service supporting homeless people and rough sleepers in Brighton and Hove

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £4,500 to Knight Support’s Home Comforts Project will buy electric kettles and toasters as well as pillows and duvets to add to Home Packs for people moving off the streets into temporary accommodation, where there may be only a bed.

Home Packs provide individuals with comfort, dignity and the ability provide for themselves. This can boost their self-esteem and morale at a time of need, and allow them to focus on rebuilding their lives.

“Thank you for the fantastic news regarding the grant that you are awarding us. We are extremely grateful to the Trustees of Axis Foundation for giving us the opportunity to continue to help our homeless clients get back on their feet when entering accommodation after a period of being on the streets.

“This makes such a world of difference to be able to offer this service and give people the chance to start over again and make a place feel like home” – Gemma Wright, Head of Operations

More about Knight Support here 

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disadvantaged

Glossopdale Furniture Project

December 12, 2024By

Home comfort for homeless

Glossopdale Furniture Project supplies donated items of furniture and household goods to people who have been homeless.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support the Derbyshire-based charity with a donation of £7,500 to purchase furniture packs.

“I am writing to thank you so much for your kind donation of £7,500 to support families by way of a free furniture pack.This grant will be of enormous help. Please pass on our thanks to your Trustees for all their support to the Glossopdale Furniture Project” – Joan Cook, Volunteer Fundraiser

More about Glossopdale Furniture Company

Glossopdale Furniture Project supplies donated items of furniture and household goods to people who have been homeless (who have been given a new but empty tenancy) and people on low incomes. In addition, Glossopdale Furniture collects 100 tonnes of good useable furniture every year, which would otherwise go to landfill. They have a workshop where volunteers restore old furniture and make new items from recycled wood which are then sold to the public.

There’s more about their work here

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disadvantaged

Dodford Children’s Farm

December 12, 2024By

Bringing the joys of interacting with animals to city children

At Dodford Children’s Farm, disadvantaged inner-city children from Birmingham and the West Midlands benefit from interacting with all the animals here.

Interacting with animals – as well as freedom, fresh air and green spaces in nine acres of woodland and meadows – is proven to be particularly valuable to children from homes where keeping a pet is not an option.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support Dodford Children’s Farm with their application for funding.

We donated £3,000 to improve and refurbish (refencing, returfing and repaving) a small animal enclosure and the provision of new accommodation for their rabbits and guinea pigs.

“Young visitors really enjoy spending time with the rabbits and guinea pigs and it will be lovely to give the animals a nicer environment and the children better access to them, thanks to help from Axis Foundation. Interacting with these animals forms an important part of the children’s visit to the farm” – Judith Williams, Chair of the Management Committee

There’s more here

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disadvantaged

The Magpie Project

December 12, 2024By

Helping women and children living in temporary accommodation in Newham

The Magpie Project supports women and children who are living in temporary or insecure accommodation in Newham and surrounding boroughs.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to make a donation of £5,000 with which The Magpie Project will buy beautiful, high-quality, well-crafted play equipment and creative items to furnish their new play space. Here mums and children play, make friends and build social connections, and access practical support.

Vera O Driscoll in our Community team suggested that The Magpie Project’s CEO and Founder Jane Williams apply to the Foundation.

And our Trustees were delighted to support this application and to help an excellent cause local to our parent company’s HQ in Stratford.

“Such beautiful wooden nursery furniture has been arriving for inside and outside play. We are thrilled. This is the first time we have ordered specific nursery sized equipment as we have only had donated toys previously.

“The wooden table for 1-2 year olds is the perfect height for our minis. I have noticed how popular the new table is and how long minis have been sitting here doing focused tasks like playdough and drawing. The chairs are lovely and really great for minis’ posture and balance.

“The climbing frame and grassy stepping stones have provided the perfect amount of risk and excitement. Many of our minis live in hotels and spend the majority of their day on beds entertained by phones, so this physical play is hugely important.

“The children have loved the big sandpits, and it’s been interesting to support the mums who have not experienced sand play to try it. And the sensory toys have provided a wonderful focus, and the babies loved playing in the dark”- Magpie Play Lead Play Lead, Hannah

 

There’s more about The Magpie Project here http://www.themagpieproject.org

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disadvantaged

Ipswich Community Playbus – Dennis

June 11, 2024By

Transporting play to disadvantaged children

Ipswich Community Playbus transports the benefits of fun and educational play to disadvantaged children and families living in Ipswich. Maggie the current Playbus is an impressive 40 years old: she is retiring soon and putting her wheels up for a well-earned rest!

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £10,000 helps Ipswich Community Playbus convert a new Playbus –  Dennis –  into another amazing play space.

“This is wonderful news and so very much appreciated! Your donation will enable Dennis to take to the roads and carry on the Playbus legacy very soon. On behalf of all the children and families, the Trustees and staff thank you so very much” – Mandy Potter, Playbus Co-Ordinator

Facilities on board Dennis include a built-in slide, sand pit, new toilet and baby change area as well as a built-in generator which will serve the on- board lighting and heating, UV window film and carpet for the top deck play area.

More about Ipswich Community Playbus

The Ipswich Community Playbus brings the benefits of play into the homes of families who live in social housing and who may not have play areas nearby.

The staff on board the bus follow the Early Years Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum in planning various and different themes each term to engage young children and develop their learning skills, bringing families and communities together.They are also able to signpost families to relevant other services/groups/activities should they be experiencing difficulties including job security and health/ financial worries.

Read more about their work 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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