Colourful planters with large ladybird models at Carmel Caterpillars pre-schoolDonations

Carmel Caterpillars Pre-School

January 9, 2018By

Helping children learn through play

Carmel Caterpillars Pre-school is a committee-run service in Sittingbourne that has been running for over 44 years. It has given parents in the community a safe place for their children to learn and play.

Their small garden was in dire need of some TLC. And so, Lorrae Mannering, whose son attends the pre-school, approached the Foundation for help. And we were delighted to support Lorrae’s application.

We donated £650 to fund garden equipment and craft materials. Specifically the donation purchased fencing, a new roof for the playhouse, a pirate ship, a new drying rack, paints, easel, craft materials, toys, paint brushes, flower pots and plants. The pre-school used these to revitalise the garden to create a more exciting space for children.

“The donation from the Axis Foundation has been amazing and is really benefitting the children and will continue to do so for years to come. We’d all like to say a very big thank you from us and the children and an extra special thank you to Lorrae for helping to organise the funding” – Louise Leppenwell, Carmel Caterpillars

More About Carmel Caterpillars

Carmel Caterpillars believes that ‘Children learn through play’ and aims to ensure that the children who attend are free to choose from a range of activities that will help them to develop and learn. The pre-school operates within the local church hall and currently runs morning and afternoon sessions, each attended by around 30 children

 

 

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Attendees to Communicate2U stand together for a picture.Disability

Communicate2U

January 7, 2018By

Training provides improved communication for people with learning disabilities

By advising potential employers and care providers on how best to communicate with people with learning difficulties, Communicate2U helps people with learning disabilities who may face reduced educational and employment opportunities – ultimately, a pathway to poor mental health and poverty. A C2U Communications Expert is person with a learning disability or a vulnerable communicator, who is trained to teach others about communication.

The Axis Foundation’s Donation of £2,000 will go towards purchasing vital equipment including laptops, cameras, a projector and a screen as well as a printer, USB sticks and a mobile phone. This will enable Communicate2U to provide more effective training and as a result, better communication for people with learning disabilities.

“We wanted to say a massive thank you for giving us money to buy equipment. It was great going shopping with so much money and we got the chance to choose what we wanted. With all the equipment, it means we are set up to prepare presentations, use the projector, and screen for use as a teaching aid. We can’t wait to get started. Thank you so much”-  all the students and interns at Communicate 2U

More About Communicate2U

At Communicate 2U there are teams of Occupational Therapy (OT) staff and Communication Experts (a person with a learning disability or other vulnerable communicator, trained to teach others about communication). They have three clear aims:

  • To empower staff in health, social care, education and business with the skills and confidence to communicate with vulnerable people
  • To change the attitudes of employers towards employing a person with additional needs
  • To provide pathways for vulnerable people into paid employment

Communicate2U has recently audited written and non-verbal communication at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and advised on designing a sensory-friendly mental health drop-in centre.

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Smiling residents of Bentilee VolunteersCommunity

Bentilee Volunteers

October 12, 2017By

Social club for adults with learning disabilities

Bentilee Volunteers is a charity which provides social activities and volunteering to children, the elderly and disadvantaged people within the local community.

£2,500 from the Axis Foundation will go towards their Rainbow Club, a social club for adults with learning disabilities, which provides a safe social haven for members to make new friends and take part in creative and interactive activities like drama, music, crafts and dancing, as well as parties and games. In addition, their theatre trips and excursions take members to exciting and stimulating places.

“Bentilee Volunteers were thrilled to receive a donation from the Axis Foundation. The funding will help our Rainbow Project to continue and grow, supporting the good work of our committed staff and volunteers. Above all, it will ensure that this much needed club remains available to local vulnerable people” – Gill McGovern, Funding Development Worker

More About Bentilee Volunteers

Bentilee Volunteers consult with the residents of Bentilee, encouraging them to identify and address the needs of their local area. As a result, they have set up a range of initiatives, helping to raise the quality of life for vulnerable people within the community.  Projects include:

  • The Furniture Shed and Charity Shop (donations and re-sales
  • Youthlink (a club for young people between the ages of 11 and 19)
  • Senior Clubs (luncheon clubs with transport, activities and outings for older members of the community)
  • The Community IT Suite (offering computer training and assistance into employment, training and volunteering opportunities)

 

 

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Group of gardeners at HeadwayCommunity

Headway SELNWK

September 12, 2017By

Helping people with brain injuries

The Axis Foundation donated £350 to Headway SELNWK ,a charitable organisation providing support and services to individuals, family members and carers affected by an acquired brain injury.

To support the therapeutic gardening programme, our donation bought a polytunnel, seeds, compost and garden tools so that members can grow their own fruit and vegetables and also create an outdoor space.

“Being out in the fresh air and gardening helps people to get more energised and the members are all very keen to show people around. It’s been a lovely contribution; it’s just made everything easier so having that contribution is very much appreciated. Your money is going a long way to Headway’s work helping people with brain injuries” – Andy Hirons, Fundraising and Development Co-ordinator

More about Headway SELNWK

Affiliated to Headway UK the brain injury association, the National charity that works to improve life after brain injury, Headway SELNWK is a charitable organisation providing support and services to individuals, family members and carers affected by an acquired brain injury across Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley, Dartford and Gravesend. The organisation offers a person-centred service that understands the complexities and problems that may arise after injury particularly with emotions, cognition, memory, communication and behaviour.

Social rehabilitation centres are based in Greenwich and Deptford and provide a friendly, positive and safe environment for all who attend and their Community Support Programme provides choice and a mix of service provision. Headway SELNWK also works in partnership with Kings College Hospital to provide an Early Intervention Project.

More here

 

 

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Disabled child using a gait trainer to learn how to walk at the Freddie Farmer FoundationDisability

Freddie Farmer Foundation

September 2, 2017By

Specialist gait trainer provides physiotherapy for disabled children

We’ve donated £7,500 to the Freddie Farmer Foundation, supporting their programme of providing physiotherapy for disabled children. Our contribution helped the charity to purchase a LokoHelp electromechanical gait trainer.

“The LokoHelp electromechanical gait trainer works with children in an upright position to enable them to walk in the correct walking pattern. “It builds up the leg muscles required for walking and encourages a more effective application of therapy in all phases of gait training.

“Ninety percent of our children already benefit from the LokoHelp electromechanical gait trainer which we have been able to purchase with your donation.

“It really makes a difference and has been invaluable to us. The £7,500 donation also completes our £55,000 campaign total. We are really, really happy – it has been hard but we have hit our target now. So a huge thank you from us to you” – Karen Smith, Charity Officer

More About Freddie Farmer Foundation

The children who attend the Freddie Farmer Foundation predominantly suffer from Cerebral Palsy like Freddie Farmer. The centre provides physiotherapy for disabled children aged between 3 and 16 years old. Although most children are from the local area in Bromley, some travel all the way from Scotland, Yorkshire and Malta to receive treatment.

See our video – find out how the Freddie Farmer spent our donation!

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Disabled adults and children enjoy festival experience with help from Festival SpiritDisability

Festival Spirit

September 1, 2017By

Festival experience for life-limited and disabled people

Festival Spirit is passionate about providing magical festival experiences for life-limited and disabled people. The charity ensures that their guests can attend such festivals and have the time of their lives whilst there. The Axis Foundation donated £5,100 to help the charity continue in their mission.

“The money donated has enabled us to purchase vital equipment to ensure we are able to provide the very best facilities and support to our guests. In particular, we have bought two high-quality hoists for bed/chair transfers and changing and a range of kitchen equipment. Our festival brunches are becoming famous!

“It makes a huge difference to our guests knowing that they can be confident they will have access to all the equipment they need through a festival weekend. We couldn’t achieve such success without the support we get from organisations like the Axis Foundation.

“We were delighted to be able to make three festivals accessible in 2017. The donation we received from you was really important to us and the equipment we purchased was greatly appreciated by the attendees” – Steve Clarke, Trustee

More about Festival Spirit

Many music festivals simply cannot offer the full festival experience for life-limited and disabled people as they cannot accommodate the special requirements.
Festival Spirit lays on a specially-adapted marquee (with hard flooring, heating and electricity) which are close to disabled facilities such as showers and toilets, as well as full electric hospital beds, shower chairs/commodes and a curtained-off private sleeping area. There are camp beds for carers too, and ‘buddies’ who assist the guests and their carers travelling around the site.

“For four days, I was Lucy. I was a young adult. I was a festival-goer. I was part of a group. I was doing something many people do. I was myself. I was not a ‘disabled’ young adult, or a ‘disabled’ festival-goer, or a ‘disabled’ group member, I was simply me” – Lucy, attending WOMAD with Festival Spirit

 

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Momentum Children's Charity hospital room decorated with wildlife theme.Care

Momentum Children’s Charity

August 2, 2017By

Transforming hospital experience for children with cancer and life-limiting illnesses

The Axis Foundation donated £3,500 to help Momentum Children’s Charity‘s transformation of the Frog Isolation Room on the Rupert Bear Paediatric Ward in Croydon University Hospital.

Momentum supports families of children with cancer and life-limiting illnesses living in South West London and Surrey. Children who have cancer and life-limiting illnesses often spend a huge amount of their time in hospital, from their diagnosis and throughout their treatment. Isolation rooms ensure they do not catch any further infections and some children can be in these rooms for up to 10 days at a time.

Bearing this in mind, the new decor at Croydon University Hospital features Momentum’s mascot Mo the Owl and other wildlife including frogs, ladybirds and butterflies and plants. This redecoration project has created a bright and happy space providing the young patients with positive distractions and enriching toys to make their time in hospital a little bit easier.

“We wanted to make a difference for the children and to make their memories of staying in hospital positive. Something as simple as improving the environment can make a huge difference. The Axis Foundation and our other supporters have allowed us to make a massive difference in the hospital and for the children” – Tara MacDowel, Head of Fundraising and Communications

“Enhancing the healing environment in hospitals is a large part of Momentum’s work. Studies have shown that a good hospital environment can greatly improve a child’s recovery time and of course the staff also benefit from a brighter, more welcoming place in which to work. So we are grateful to all of you at the Axis Foundation. With your donation we have been able to transform the Isolation Room at Croydon University Hospital into a wonderful welcoming space for our young cancer patients. … thank you again for your support” – Bianca Effemey, Co-Founder

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Man holding baby at Sparks Medical Research CharityCare

Sparks

July 26, 2017By

Pioneering children’s medical research

The Axis Foundation donated a total of £75,000 to Sparks over two years to help them continue their pioneering children’s medical research. Our donations were raised at the Axis Foundation Christmas Charity Ball, our Celebrity Golf Days and by assorted fundraising initiatives undertaken by Axis people.

“It’s fantastic to have the ongoing support of the extremely generous Axis Foundation. This will make a big difference to the number of projects we’re able to fund, and really help with our aim to give every child the best possible start in life” – Rob Booker, CEO

“Now more than ever there is real hope for children with complex and rare conditions and with your help we can fun even more pioneering child health research. On behalf of Sparks and everyone at GOSH Charity, thank you so much for your tremendous support” – Elvira Morrison, Head of Sparks

Why we chose Sparks

John Hayes, Trustee of the Axis Foundation, recognised the importance of Sparks’ contributions to children’s medical research. So he adopted Sparks as one of the Axis Foundation’s charity partners alongside Demelza Hospice Care for Children in 2015.

Axis Foundation Trustees giving a cheque to Sparks Medical Research Charity
Here we are presenting a cheque for £52,751 to Sparks at our Alan Curbishley Classic Charity Golf Day attended by famous faces such as Roy Hodgson and Sir Trevor Brooking (2017).

More about Sparks

Sparks was established in 1991 and has funded over 290 pioneering children’s medical research projects in universities, hospitals and research institutions across both the UK and overseas including in these fields:

  • The 4,000 rare childhood diseases that are yet to have a cure
  • The 50,000 premature births that take place in England and Wales each year, currently the leading cause of the death of children under the age of five
  • 1 in 30 children born in the UK every day which has a condition that will affect them for life

Sparks is now part of the Great Ormond Street Hospital charity family and supports clinicians and scientists conducting research into treatments and cures of medical conditions affecting children’s health.

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Two girls at craft sessions at Newhaven YFCDonations

Newhaven YFC

July 12, 2017By

Craft sessions encourage creativity in young people

The Axis Foundation donated £550 to Newhaven YFC, a youth club in East Sussex that provides children with a safe place to socialise and have fun. The donation funded essential craft materials for their weekly craft sessions which are incredibly popular with the children that attend.

“We are very reliant on grants such as this for extras for the young people so that we can keep them engaged and learning in a fun way. We are very grateful to the Axis Foundation for your generosity  – Sara Alexander, Youth Worker

More About Newhaven YFC

Newhaven YFC aims to engage children in meaningful activities and provide them with a place where they can be creative and interact with their peers. In order to keep the club accessible for all, they only ask for a small contribution of 50p to attend sessions. Newhaven YFC believes that it is important for young people to have access to enriching activities at a low cost as it encourages positive social interaction and allows them to discover new hobbies.

Currently, around 40 young people attend the weekly activities, which range from sports, cooking, crafts sessions and games. These activities give children something fun to look forward to while keeping them out of trouble. Furthermore, children are encouraged to communicate with staff about how they’re feeling and discuss issues that may be bothering them.

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Three children have their face painted at elevating success event.Donations

Elevating Success

June 29, 2017By

Helping community training enterprise turn lives around

Elevating Success is a community training charity helping underprivileged people in matters of employment, training or education.

They organise the Lewisham Youth Conference which inspires individuals to reach their full potential and shows them local voluntary and job opportunities. There are workshops, performances, talks and informal discussions about personal and professional wellbeing.

In 2017, the Axis Foundation granted £1,500 to Elevating Success. The donation sponsored the Youth Achievement Awards at the Lewisham Youth Conference that year. The awards recognise the positive work of young people in their local community.

 “We are really grateful for the donation from the Axis Foundation. It meant that we were able to give out three awards at Lewisham Youth Conference 2017. These awards celebrate the work, commitment and selflessness of the people in our community. The funding by  the Axis Foundation allowed us to recognise and celebrate these achievements. We look forward to working with you again in the future” – Conference Organiser and CEO Andrew Brown

Earlier Donations

The Axis Foundation has regularly supported Elevating Success since our first grant to them of £2,500 in 2013. We have made subsequent donations of £2,000 in 2014 and £1,500 in 2016 totalling, with our 2017 donation, £7,500.

“We’re happy to back a local project that provides positive activities in a safe and welcoming environment for children who need support. If this gives the young people involved a focused outlet, some new skills and interests and encourages social interaction and ultimately keeps them out of trouble – it has to be a good thing” –  Peter Varney, Chairman, Axis Foundation Trustees

More about Elevating Success

Elevating Success, established in 2008, supports 1,400 underprivileged individuals a year. The charity delivers training in employability and personal development and offers rehabilitation for offenders, holiday programmes and events, Their primary focus is to provide community training in Croydon, Lambeth and Lewisham, but their reach extends across the capital.

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