Students sitting at tables studying to become Mental Health AmbassadorsCommunity

Student Life

September 9, 2020By

Foundation supports Mental Health Ambassador project

Student Life, based in Ipswich, supports the government’s initiative to transform the way that mental health problems are dealt with in our society. They place an emphasis on early intervention for children and young people. The charity also aims to normalise speaking up about mental health and reducing stigma and media stereotypes.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £4,715 will fund one young person to be trained as a Mental Health First Aid England Instructor. They will deliver Youth Mental Health First Aid and other mental health awareness training courses to students to allow them to become Mental Health Ambassadors, creating a unique peer-to-peer support network.

Young people from school year 10+ will benefit from having access to at least one peer who will offer support and guidance through 1-2-1 discussion, through spotting early warning signs of mental health issues and signposting to additional, third party support.

“We are exceptionally proud of our Mental Health Ambassador project and the unique nature of the work that we carry out in education settings across 3 counties.  Part of the uniqueness is that our own young people – not long out of education themselves – are placed on accredited training through Mental Health First Aid England and having graduated, are training other young people in a very relevant and relatable way. This would not be possible without the support of organisations like the Axis Foundation: and our Trustees, our young team and I are so very grateful for this amazing support” – Richard Stewart, Chief Executive at Student Life

More about Student Life

Student Life works with young people in high schools, sixth forms, colleges and universities providing support and activities to develop their skills, capacities and capabilities, and supporting their mental health as they go through education into employment. This work is currently carried out in over 60 settings in Suffolk, Norfolk and Kent, with plans to extend into 2 additional counties from January 2021.

And there’s more here

READ MORE
Kennet Furniture, man in high vis jacket in store room of furniture and white goodsCommunity

Kennett Furniture Refurbiz

September 8, 2020By

Aid for Families in Crisis

We might take them for granted, but white goods such as cookers, washing machines, and fridges are vital to families in crisis, where abuse and relationship breakdown may be factors, where a single parent is often caring for troubled children. White goods help such families live hygienically and eat healthy, home-cooked food. 

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £2,000 will contribute to Kennett Furniture Refurbiz‘s (KFR) Families in Crisis Project Fund whereby KFR will supply and install – free of charge to qualifying families  – essential large white goods which have been refurbished at their premises in Devizes.

KFR estimates that their Families in Crisis project will help 450+ people per/annum.

“Our charity would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Axis Foundation for the amazing donation towards our Families in Crisis project. Since reopening on the 1st of June, following the easing of  COVID-19 restrictions, our Crisis fund has provided 59 items of white goods to struggling families and individuals free of charge. According to the “Reuse Network’s impact calculator”, the cost of buying these items new, would have totalled nearly £9,000 and in doing so we have generated a 1718kg saving in C02 by refurbishing these items. We not only help families to survive, we also help the planet!”– Daniel Thompson, Operation Manager

More about KFR

Kennett Furniture Refurbiz (KFR) visits over 3,000 homes each year collecting and refurbishing furniture and white goods for re-sale to households with limited income in Wiltshire.

Environment protection 

Each year KFR also prevents over 150 tonnes of items of pre-owned furniture and white goods being sent to landfill by refurbishing them and finding them new homes.

Training and employment 

KFR also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities and trains volunteers to become accredited white goods repair technicians, meaningful qualifications for employment.

There’s more about them here

READ MORE
Axis CEO John Hayes handing over mini bus to Maypole charityDisability

The Maypole Project

September 5, 2020By

Support for parents of children with life-threatening illnesses

The long and happy relationship between The Maypole Project and the Axis Foundation dates back to 2016. Then the Foundation donated a minibus to this Bromley-based charity supporting the families of children with life-threatening illnesses.

Christened Mayble, the minibus transports over 500 children a year to different events and activities. Mayble also carries parents who lack transport to support groups, events and activities.

“Everyone at The Maypole Project was absolutely amazed and delighted to hear that we were successful in our bid to gain a minibus. It will make a huge impact on the services we can provide to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families – where transport is frequently a major block to access. We will also be able to develop activities and outings that we have, until this point, put on hold! A winning asset all round – thank you Axis!” – Sally Flatteau Taylor, Founder and CEO of Maypole

“I think it’s brilliant. So many of us struggle just with the day-to-day and to get to a place is difficult. It will be great to get on the minibus and support the child there rather than have the child in the back of a small car, trying to take their seat belt off” – Maypole parent Ros Luff

“We would like to say a massive THANK YOU to the team at Axis for donating our wonderful minibus, Mayble. The Maypole Project organises lots of wonderful outings in their minibus which enable my child with special needs to be alongside their siblings … we think it’s absolutely amazing. Thank you to the team at Axis for donating Mayble, we would be lost without The Maypole Project’s support” Maypole parent

2017: Funding toys and equipment

The Axis Foundation made a further donation (£9,000, 2017) which helped purchase sensory toys and a wheelchair lift.

Sally Flatteau Taylor said: “Those who are chronically ill get great joy out of playing with sensory toys. The wheelchair lift gives direct and easy access to the family support room and the toilet which has been incredibly helpful for the children and their families. It has helped us support so many more children. It gives the children better access inside and outside of the building. The support from the Axis Foundation is amazing  is phenomenal for our charity. We really do appreciate it. It’s been really good to have the Axis Foundation’s support and belief in the work that we do.”

2018: Building a Sensory Barn for Maypole

In 2018 Axis Apprentices created a Sensory Barn in Maypole’s garden. This enabled all Maypole children to play safely in a stimulating and interactive room. It had long been on the wish list at Maypole and Axis was happy to help out. The full story of the Sensory Barn with pictures and video is here!

2019/ 2020: More support for Maypole

In 2019, the Axis Foundation made a further donation of £1,500 to help Maypole with their drumming workshops, which due to COVID-19 became online activities in 2020. A further donation of £5,000 in 2020 purchased more soft toys for the sensory cabin (built by Axis) and supported taking families on outings.

Maypole families said:

“Thanks so much again for accommodating us, it was such a lovely space for the kids. We had great fun and a great break.”

“We came to the horse-grooming/walking activity in Tonbridge and my child thoroughly enjoyed it. The peaceful setting, the one-to-one careful attention he received all helped to make it so memorable and enjoyable for him.”

“Thank you so much for the outing – we had great fun this morning.”

2021: Bespoke play boxes

The Axis Foundation funded 40 play boxes tailored to an individual disabled child’s needs with a donation of £1500 (2021). The Maypole Project recruited a play therapist to work face to face with the children (some of this online) during the Pandemic.

2022: Sensory play equipment

The Axis Foundation donated £6,866 towards sensory equipment, children’s t-shirts, and team sweatshirts. The sensory equipment includes floor mats, wall toys, fibre optic sparkle rugs, liquid floor tiles and light up toys.

“We are so truly appreciative of this generous award from the Axis Foundation to The Maypole Project – and of course all of the support – both financial and practical through the apprentices work in our buildings – you and your team have given us over the years that it’s hard to find the words” – Sally Flatteau Taylor, Founder and CEO of Maypole

2024: Specialist equipment

The Trustees agreed to support Maypole once again with a donation of £6,750 to purchase postural chairs, adjustable tables and iPads.

Total donations to Maypole

Our donations to Maypole Project, supporting families of children with life-threatening illnesses, came to £72,750 in 2024.

Here is what Sally Flatteau Taylor said to us in 2021:

We can’t thank you enough for the wonderful donations you have provided us across the years. They are all in constant use:
Minibus – used in lockdown to make visits to families and in full use every day during the summer holidays when we had had our fullest programme of outings and excitement yet  including visits to the beach, riding, sailing, bowling, climbing and even to a shopping centre
Stairlift for back office – well in use: as the pandemic lifted we found families were desperately in need of new spaces, new activities, new toys and sensations for the children so we turned the back office into a soft and sensory play space initially used by one family alone (cleaned between sessions by one of our team) and now more families can meet there.
Garden – in full use, as it was when your team wonderfully transformed it!
Sensory Cabin – we have added much sensory equipment in there to make it a play therapy centre for children, and a quiet and calming space for adults
Play Therapy and Play Boxes: The children LOVE THEM and they are a definite and permanent feature of our work.

There’s more about Maypole here

READ MORE
Case of opthalmic equipment Fight against BlindnessCare

Fight Against Blindness

September 4, 2020By

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

READ MORE
Woman and child reading togetherDonations

Literacy Pirates

September 3, 2020By

Getting on board to support young children with their reading!

Literacy Pirates helps disadvantaged children who are falling behind in their literacy. Our donations to Literacy Pirates which total £16,500 in 2022, support  300 children, helping them with their reading and literacy skills via the volunteer programme, and also improved the premises of the Hackney based charity via Project Shipshape!

“We are very pleased to have Axis Foundation on board as a supporter! The money will go towards the costs of running our volunteer programme which is so integral to the success of our Learning Programme. Thank you once again for your support. It is hugely appreciated by everyone at The Literacy Pirates” – Triona Larkin, Head of Fundraising

In 2021, the Axis Foundation – with City Plumbing Community Fund –  donated £6,500 to Project Shipshape. Project Shipshape transformed the Pirates’ Hackney premises providing a fresh coat of paint covering recent graffiti, a new fascia and a sea-waves mural up their books staircase which has also had new titles added with input from the children, reflecting the diversity of the local area and centring stories from a range of authors and protagonists.

 

“The striking entrance, murals on the walls and the books staircase will all combine to inspire creativity and motivation. Thank you Axis Foundation for continuing to support children’s learning adventures in your local community.” – Triona Larkin, Head of Fundraising

More about Literacy Pirates

Local schools refer children to the Literacy Pirates. Here they attend a year-long after-school learning programme at one of the two fantastical centres, the ‘Ships’, in Hackney or Haringey, both in east London. Trained volunteers give the children extra help with literacy skills and support them with their reading. At the same time they help them complete exciting published projects such as books, films and podcasts.

With the help of the Literacy Pirates, children’s reading age improves over 50% faster than age-related expectations.

In January 2014 the Literacy Pirates opened their dedicated learning centre (the Ship) in Dalston and in January 2019 launched a second Ship in Tottenham, Haringey. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, they built a virtual ship in two weeks, and offered weekly activities during lockdown.

There’s even more here!

READ MORE
black pony standing in treesDisability

Barrow Farm

September 3, 2020By

Our pony provides riding for adults and children with disabilities

Barrow Farm offers subsidised riding, including to those with limited means, bringing fitness, fulfilment, friendship and fun to adults and children with disabilities.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £5,500 went towards purchasing a handsome new pony, Murphy, who can offer riding and driving experiences to at least five more people every week. A further donation in 2023 of £1,200 bought Murphy a new saddle!

Dr Karen Lehner, Vice Chairman of the Trustees, said: “We are truly indebted to the Axis Foundation enabling us to help more disabled children and adults. Murphy is a real people-loving horse and likes nothing better than to be petted for as long as you can stand there!”

More about Barrow Farm

Every week 130 riders and 11 carriage drivers with a range of difficulties enjoy the riding at this specialist centre in Essex where 13 horses and ponies, along with four paid coaches and over 80 volunteers offer support in a safe environment.

The father of one driver described his daughter’s riding session as  “the highlight of her week” while his daughter added: “ I am constantly striving to improve. It’s something new that I haven’t done before; I learn something new every time. Having a hobby outside of my work life distracts me from work and helps with stress.”

Barrow Farm loves welcoming new visitors  – find out more here – and when you drop in, do say hello to Murphy!

READ MORE
Boxing school young men trainingDonations

Sandwell Asian Development Association

July 1, 2020By

Preventing crime and antisocial behaviour through boxing

Sandwell Asian Development Association (SADA) keeps young people away from anti-social behaviour and crime, promoting community cohesion, wellbeing, self esteem and physical fitness through their inner city boxing scheme.

In 2023, the Axis Foundation donated £1,000 so SADA could purchase new equipment (a Speed Ball platform, Geezers 6ft leather bag, Wing chun dummy, and ten pairs of boxing gloves). Our award helped SADA launch a non-contact boxing programme for young people (14-18 years).

This follows our previous (2020) donation of £1,000 to SADA to purchase a computer and boxing equipment.

“The boxing training has helped me to improve as a person and respect my elders. Thank you” – SADA service user

More About SADA

SADA runs an 8-week inner city boxing course for young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Participants live in BME communities in Sandwell MBC and North West Birmingham; a high percentage have learning difficulties and come from disadvantaged and low income backgrounds. They are referred to SADA by the West Midlands Police, youth services and probation services.

West Midlands Police, Sandwell Council and ex-world boxing champion Ritchie Woodhall all support SADA’s inner city boxing scheme.

READ MORE
cheque presentation by the Axis Foundation to Oliver Fisher TrustCare

Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

January 7, 2020By

Supporting a Special Care Baby Unit

Liam and Amy Hayes’ son Benjamin Jeffrey John Hayes was born on Sunday 12 May 2019 and sadly passed away 10 days later.

At The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Medway the doctors and nurses gave Benjamin the very best care they could before he was transferred to Demelza Children’s Hospice.

The Axis Foundation’s annual charity ball in 2019 raised record-breaking sums, with the help of our generous and kind guests, which were shared between our charity partner Demelza and The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Read Benjamin’s story by Liam Hayes here and more about our work with Demelza here

More about The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

In 1983, Dr Oliver Fisher created a Special Care Baby Unit in All Saints Hospital in Kent. The unit then had just two special care cots. Now based in Medway Maritime Hospital, the unit has 36 cots including eight intensive care, eight transitional care, four high dependency and 16 special care cots. In 2018, The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, admitted 1226 babies. The unit serves Kent, London and the South East.

The work

The Unit cares for babies born prematurely or who are sick and need intensive care in a highly specialised facility, with skilled staff and sophisticated equipment. It provides all neonatal medical intensive care (excluding cardiology) and also Cooling Therapy for babies with Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy: a brain problem following lack of oxygen and blood supply at birth.

The team

The team comprises two Paediatric Surgeons, jointly appointed with Kings College Hospital, and a dedicated Neonatal Transport Team.

Quality of life

The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has increased the number of babies for whom they care. And the team has also increased the percentage of babies who have survived – and survived well, to have good quality of life.

Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust

The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust (OFSCBT) raises additional funds to purchase essential equipment for The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

 

READ MORE
Two young boxers holding their trophies after a fightDonations

Runcorn Amateur Boxing Club

December 12, 2019By

Giving disadvantaged youngsters a fighting chance through boxing training

Runcorn Amateur Boxing Club, open for nearly 100 years, is a haven for vulnerable youngsters in Cheshire. The Axis Foundation’s £5,000 donation bought new boxing equipment to improve the gym’s facilities. The new boxing equipment makes the club an even more attractive prospect for disadvantaged individuals.

Runcorn’s Head Coach, Darren, said “I’d like to thank Axis on behalf of everyone at the club, as well as personally. It’s great to find like-minded people with the same goal to improve the mindset of Runcorn’s kids on this issue and to help us help them. Again, thank you.”

More about Runcorn Amateur Boxing Club

Runcorn is in the top 5% of deprived areas nationally, so the boxing club is a place for young adults to engage in meaningful activities, away from negative influences like knife crime. It’s an important part of the community that helps children and young adults thrive, as well as exercise.

Preserving the facilities and maintaining equipment is an important part of keeping Runcorn open. Their fully-licensed community boxing club has over 100 members but is always welcoming newcomers. Their Knife Down Glove Up campaign plays a vital part in educating people about the dangers of knife crime. It will reach their immediate members as well as filter through parents to other families in the wider community.

Volunteer coaches make sure mentoring is aligned to the most vulnerable, helping youngsters develop both physically and mentally. The new gym equipment includes a boxing ring, which adds to the clubs great facilities. Runcorn welcomes children aged seven upwards, providing opportunities that could change lives and a space based on equal opportunities.

READ MORE
Patient using an FES machine in therapyDisability

Berkshire MS Therapy Centre

December 12, 2019By

Donation of Functional Electrical Stimulation machine helps MS sufferers

The Berkshire MS Therapy Centre has supported people with Multiple Sclerosis for over 30 years. Our donation means that the centre can buy a four-channel Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) machine, and the accompanying electrodes. The machine stimulates four muscles simultaneously, alleviating symptoms such as impaired limb movement and muscle weakness.

I feel like I did before I had MS – Candice, patient

Being able to exercise properly is vital for MS sufferers because exercise rebuilds muscle strength. It also benefits fatigue and balance, decreasing the risk of falls.

Candice, who uses the machine said: “It is amazing how this small piece of equipment can make me grin like a love-struck teenager! I just can’t explain enough how it feels to suddenly have so much improvement in my movements. I feel like I did before I had MS. A simple thank you just doesn’t seem enough to convey what a difference this has made.”

The Berkshire Centre has used FES therapy for years but usually this therapy is a treatment for foot drop. The centre now uses a four-channel machine to aid people with wider movement issues, helping even more MS sufferers. FES applies electrical charges to muscles that have been paralysed or weakened because of brain or spinal cord damage. Leading physiotherapist Henriette said the machine “is a great addition because we can offer more support for people with MS”.

She adds: “On behalf of everyone at the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre thank for your help and generosity.”

More about MS

MS is an unpredictable condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. It can cause a range of debilitating symptoms; the centre uses treatments to make life with MS easier. To find out more, visit https://www.bmstc.org/.

Watch Candice with an FES machine in action below.

READ MORE