Demelza

Climbing Kilimanjaro for Demelza

Axis’ Walter Shave recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro raising a fantastic £2,500 for Demelza and First Halesworth Scout Group.

The two-week expedition, which was completely self-funded by the team, took just over two weeks to complete and created memories to last a lifetime.

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the African continent’s highest peak at 5895m (19,340ft) and is the highest free-standing mountain above sea level worldwide.

The team started off by climbing up two smaller peaks nearby to acclimatise to the altitudes. And then it was time for the main event! The climb up Mt Kilimanjaro started after additional training in the rainforest.  Every day Wally and his team climbed a total of 1000m which is the equivalent of Mount Snowdon!

On the summit day, they woke up at 1am to reach the top just in time for sunrise. Wally reports: “We noticed that we were struggling a lot to physically move due to the lack of oxygen at that altitude, our average speed was 1.2km per hour! It was hard to believe that our oxygen levels went down to an astonishing 70%. When you are at sea level, if your oxygen levels go down to 92% you need to be rushed to A&E! The last 250m we walked through glaciers to reach the summit which were incredible: planes were flying below us! Once we reached the summit it was a feeling of such achievement and joy surrounded by amazing views and a beautiful sunrise, we will cherish that moment for our lifetime!”

For his scout group, First Halesworth Scout Group, the money raised will help fund an annual scout trip to Scotland or Switzerland for less fortunate members. For Demelza, the money will help to ensure every child and young person who has a serious or terminal condition receives the care and attention they need to live the most fulfilling life they can.

“Young people are our future! If I can make a small but meaningful contribution to both these fantastic organisations by giving up some of my time and sweat, then it’s a win win all round.”

Read more about our precious partnership with Demelza here.

And there’s more about how we helped First Halesworth Scouts here

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Demelza

Axis team raises £10,600 for Demelza

Our Axis team raised £10,600 for our charity partner Demelza Hospice Care for Children on a sponsored cycle ride.

Axis’ Lee Covington, Lee Pearce, Leslie Crabbe, Jake Thomas, and Elliot Pillin cycled from London to Paris in 24 hours to raise funds for our charity partner.

The Axis team, who work in the Projects Division, cycled a total of 180 miles, starting at Trafalgar Square in London, then heading for Newhaven and over to Dieppe, and finishing at the Eiffel Tower.

They smashed their target of £10,000, raising £10,600 all of which will be donated to our charity partner, Demelza via the Axis Foundation.

Our generous subcontractors sponsored the ride and their logos were proudly emblazoned on our cyclists specially-commissioned kit. With special thanks to…

  • Adeva Home Improvements Ltd
  • A-Z Stone Repairs Ltd
  • Britelite Windows Limited
  • E&C Construction Ltd
  • Exterior Plas Ltd
  • Genesis Incorporated Ltd
  • Granville Noise Insulators Limited
  • Heron Joinery
  • Masons Scaffolding
  • Rich Demolition Limited
  • Russell Trew
  • Symphony Windows
  • Ultimate Access Solutions LTD
  • VH Electrical (UK) Ltd

… and a big thank you to everyone else who supported our team and helped Demelza too.

You can still support them here 

Here’s what the team had to say:

“Since having my young son Ellis, it has made it more apparent what a great job Demelza do… this bike ride was a good way to raise money to help support the charity in the fantastic work they carry out”-  Lee Covington

“The ride was full of emotions what kept me going was Axis team and the help we were giving to Demelza” – Leslie Crabbe

“It was an experience that I will never forget, although it was hard it was worthwhile for the money that was raised to support the Axis Foundation and the fantastic causes” – Lee Pearce

“It was the best and hardest experience of my life so far; it was only possible with the great team of people around me at Axis!” – Jake Thomas

“Our joint effort raised a substantial amount of money, which will hopefully go a long way to help those less fortunate” – Elliott Pillin

There’s more about our precious partnership with Demelza here

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News

£2m Donated!

In July 2022 we reached an extraordinary landmark. Our donations hit the £2m mark. That’s £2m donated to 270 small, local and impactful causes in 13 years of giving.

“The £2m moment” – our cheque to Demelza for £89,000 took us over the £2m mark!

We presented the cheque to Demelza’s patron, media presenter and Strictly judge, Len Goodman, at our 4th Axis Foundation Charity Golf Day.

Accepting the cheque for our charity partner Demelza, Len said: ‘The Axis Foundation is a fantastic charity. You get Ten from Len!’

Our host at the Foundation Celebrity Golf Day was our own Axis Foundation Patron, sports pundit and former football manager Alan Curbishley. Our guests included our generous suppliers, clients and subcontractors. Former football stars Teddy Sheringham, ex-England, Spurs and Manchester United player, and Scott Minto, former Charlton Athletic, Chelsea and West Ham star and football pundit who is also a long-term supporter of Demelza Hospice, were among the golfers who took part in the celebrity 4-ball challenge.

Lavinia Jarrett, Chief Executive at Demelza, said: “A huge thank you to the team at the Axis Foundation for their on-going support. Over the years, they have taken part in sky dives, abseils, running challenges, have hosted balls and golf days, as well as volunteering at our hospices – they are an incredible group of people and their support means so much to the families we work with.”

Peter Varney, our Chairman of our Trustees added: ““The Trustees of the Axis Foundation and I were delighted to present our cheque for £89,000 to our friend and partner Demelza, particularly as this donation was a special landmark for us, taking our total donations to £2m.”

13 years of giving

Our 13-year history of donating has helped people with disability, disease and life-limiting illnesses; those who are experiencing poverty, depression, deprivation and addiction; the lonely and the disadvantaged; parents, carers, the elderly, babies and the very young. Each one of these donations is intended to create a positive lasting difference: a hand up, rather than a hand out.

Help us make another million in donations by applying to the Foundation here

Special thanks to all our supporters – suppliers, subcontractors and clients as well as our own Axis people: your generosity helped the Foundation reach this amazing £2m milestone.

Left to right in our photo: Peter Varney, Chairman, Axis Foundation; Len Goodman, Demelza Patron; Alan Curbishley, Axis Foundation Patron

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Charity Ball

2021 Charity Ball raises £340,000

Our 15th Axis Foundation Charity Ball raised £170,000 thanks to the generosity of our guests – our suppliers, subcontractors and supporters.

Axis Europe, parent company of the Axis Foundation, then match funded what was raised on the night to make a grand total of £340,000.

This money will go to fund and facilitate the small, local and impactful causes that the Foundation supports, including over £70,000 to our charity partner Demelza Hospice.

As our Foundation Chairman Peter Varney says: “I can’t thank you all enough for your support. It is no exaggeration to say you have changed the lives of many vulnerable people and communities for the better.”

The Axis Foundation’s 2020 Charity Ball had to be cancelled due to Covid-19. So this 2021’s record-breaking sum has even greater significance for the small local charities the Foundation support who were hit hard by the Pandemic.

The money raised at our 15th ball in December 2021 bring the total sums raised by all Axis’ charity balls to £1,190,000.

 

A very big thank you to everyone who made this happen including:

Our guests and everyone who attended and supported our 15th Charity Ball: A-Z Stone Repairs, AkzoNobel, BJL Electrical and Property Services, Brewers,Bute Group, Bulgaro, Cablesheer,Camview Security, City Plumbing,Clear Line, D & M Plumbing, DMD Installation, DMD Contractors, DMJ, Dynes Motor Group, ENVA, ESTEC Engineering, Example Recruitment, Excel Painting Contractors, Exterior Plas, FFT, Fleet Auction Group, Gertski Wealth Management, Horizon Installation, Howells  Solutions, ICD Solutions,Inner City Fabrications, Integral Environmental Solutions, J & D Pallets, J&S Maintenance, LMP Installations, M & R, Mark Building Maintenance, Marsh, Miranda Double Glazing, Masons Scaffolding, Moorepay, Pioneer Site Services, PSTG Fire Protection, Quay Office Group, Rich Demolition, ROCC, Rose Construction, Russell Trew, Sei Contractor, SLK, Symphony Windows, Thermoserv, TOR Coating, Thomas Mansfield, Employment Law Solicitors, TW Drainage, Ultimate Access Solutions, Ultimate Construction Group, VH Electrical, Virtus Energy, Your Image

All who kindly sponsored our evening: Alandale Plant & Scaffolding and Example Recruitment (our entertainment), Miranda Double Glazing (our violinist Rachel Somerset), Jaw Roofing (our drinks reception)

Those who generously donated to our auction and raffle: AkzoNobel, Alan Curbishley, BG Building, Butler & Young Associates, CMS, Crown Paints, David Moss, Emitwise, Galway Hynes Ltd, John Hayes Axis CEO, Joe Ibrahim Axis MD, Intex Facades, J&S Heating, JLJ Decor, Let It Flow, Parish Print, Pump Practitioners, Stuart Fenn Property Services Ltd,  Geoff Shreeves – Sky TV, Thomas and Thomas

And to those who once again kindly gave their time: Charles Hanson – Auctioneer, Kevin Reynolds – Manager of Soul Connection and Glenn Macnamara, Steve Sutherland – our fantastic MC for the night!

Read here how we scooped the Corporate Foundation category of the Business Charity Awards

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Coronavirus responseNews

Axis Foundation Coronavirus Response

The Coronavirus is having a devastating impact on our community, as well as on the charities and causes who support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

The Axis Foundation’s Trustees would like to reassure our charity partners and those seeking funding that we remain open for new applications and are committed to supporting our communities and the people worst affected by Covid-19.

To ensure this is possible and that the funds we have available are used effectively, to provide maximum long-lasting impact, we are making some temporary changes to our application, review and funding process:

Urgent Funding Applications – Coronavirus Relief

We would like to help the most vulnerable in our community through this time. So we will be prioritising funding applications that can make a long-lasting positive impact in relation to Coronavirus relief efforts.

You can continue to make any funding application, but we will only be dealing with those deemed immediately impactful in relation to Coronavirus relief efforts within our community.

Please note: We only support small, local charities and causes providing impactful front-line community services.

Applications Received (Prior to 31.03.20)

Our Trustees met on the 31.03.20 and reviewed the applications received prior to this date. The applications that met our criteria and that were selected for support will have the funding deferred until further notice – if they do not provide immediate and impactful benefit in relation to Coronavirus relief.

At a future date (to be agreed) these successful application will be re-reviewed to ensure that the charity or cause is still operating and the project or activity is still viable.

Non-Urgent Applications (Received Post March 2020)

All new non-urgent applications will be deferred until after the impacts of Coronavirus have been addressed. All applications received relating to non-urgent activity, will be kept and reviewed at a later date.

Funding Already Granted

Where the Axis Foundation has already provided funding: If you plan to adapt the original purpose or use of this funding due to the impact of Coronavirus or redirect it to relief efforts, please contact the Foundation prior to committing the money.

Coronavirus response

We hope you understand our response to the situation we are all facing and we look forward to being able to reinstate our usual application processes as soon as we can.

Applications

If you would like to apply on the above basis, please click here to access our application form

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dinner table with red napkins, charity ball programme and Christmas CrackersCharity Ball

Record-breaking Axis Foundation Charity Ball 2019

As the culmination to our 10th birthday year of celebrations, our 14th charity ball raised a record-breaking £150,000. This brings the total sums raised by all Axis’ charity balls to £850,000.

In 2019 the Foundation celebrated a Decade of Donations. It has granted over £1.4m to 200+ small, local and impactful causes. As Peter Varney, Chairman of the Trustees of the Axis Foundation said on the night of the ball:

None of us involved could ever have imagined how much the Axis Foundation would develop into the charity it is today and we are immensely proud of the work it now does. So thank you again to all of you who are here tonight for your support and your donations.  And, here’s to the next ten years of giving!

The money raised on the night was donated to our long-term charity partner Demelza Hospice for Children as well as our guest charity of the night, The Oliver Fisher Trust. Both these charities are devoted to helping babies, children and their families at times of unbearable sadness and when precious, short lives are drawing to an end.

The Foundation sees this record-breaking charity ball as a remarkable and fitting close to our 10th birthday year and thanks all our generous guests and supporters for helping us help our chosen charities.

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Axis Foundation Logo and Silver ten trophy on tableNews

10th Birthday celebrations mark a Decade of Donations

This year, 2019, the Axis Foundation is 10 years old.

At the beginning of 2019

We launched our birthday year with Generous January. The Foundation invited Axis people to nominate local causes and individuals who might need a helping hand in the New Year.

Birthday celebrations

To mark our Decade of Donations the Axis Foundation hosted a party at Painter-Stainers Hall in London (recently refurbished by our award-winning Projects Division). Guests included our clients as well as friends from the many small, local and impactful causes the Foundation has supported.

Celebrity Golf Day’s a Winner

Our annual Golf Day – named for our, sports pundit and tv personality Patron Alan Curbishley – raised a record amount in our birthday year.

And the close of play

A fitting end to our celebratory year, our 2019 Axis Foundation Charity Ball raised a record-breaking £150,000 for our charities for the night. These were the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust and our partner Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

The numbers

Since the Foundation was born, it has donated over £1.4m to 200 small, local and impactful causes in the communities where we work. We like to call it our Decade of Donations!

Our work

The Foundation has:

  • provided care and love as well as vital equipment and improved facilities for those with life-limiting illnesses
  • funded medical research into children’s illnesses
  • supported anti-knife crime and youth safety initiatives
  • reached out the hand of friendship to those who are isolated, with practical donations like adapted minibuses and cars
  • helped the vulnerable meet, socialise and engage in activities as well as receive appropriate care.
  • given a voice for those hard-to-reach elements of our community who sometimes remain unheard.
Axis people

Funds for the Foundation come from a corporate donation as well as money raised by our charity ball and golf days and by the indefatigable people of Axis.Their work is acknowledged this year with the inaugural Axis Fundraising Heroes Awards.

Our partner

The Foundation’s charity partner is Demelza Hospice Care for Children. The hospice provides end of life care to children and babies and crucial support to their families. Axis has partnered Demelza for over 15 years (before the Foundation was born) and helped set up their new hospice facilities in East London. In 2019 Demelza awarded Axis their Gold Outstanding Corporate Supporter award at the Demelza Business Awards 2019.

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Close up of parents and babyDemelza

Benjamin’s story by Liam Hayes

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

This is Benjamin’s story, told by Liam:

“I know many of you will have heard our news because you’ve been overwhelmingly supportive and caring, it’s been felt by both Amy and myself and is hugely appreciated. But I wanted to tell Benjamin’s story because I’m still a proud dad and also because it highlights the importance of charities like Demelza, who Axis supports through our Foundation.

“After a healthy pregnancy we arrived at the hospital excited about the birth and ready to meet our little boy. But our joy turned to concern when the midwifes discovered Benjamin’s heart rate had dropped in the final stages of labour and despite the best efforts of the midwifery team, the lack of oxygen being delivered his organs had left him with severe brain damage.

“Benjamin was transferred to the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit in Medway where the doctors and nurses gave him the very best care they could in the hopes of reversing some of the damage done to his brain.

“Very sadly this is something that cannot be predicted in babies and there is no reason as to why it happens. It is all out of anyone’s control. We now know that 3 in 1000 babies are affected by HIE during labour or at birth.

“Benjamin fought hard but despite his courage and determination his brain condition wasn’t going to improve and his little head just wouldn’t tell him to breathe.

“After the medical teams had done all that they could, we took Benjamin to Demelza. They helped us make happy memories, even at the toughest time our family has ever been through.

“We had a teddy bears’ picnic in the garden with Benjamin’s grandparents, aunties and uncles. We held Benjamin whilst we all had tea and cake and listened to music.

“When it was the right time for Benjamin to fall asleep, it was so calm and peaceful. Benjamin didn’t suffer any pain during his short life which gives us some comfort.

“During the darkest days the wonderful staff at the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit and Demelza provided support and comfort.

I felt it was important to share this because we’ve had so much support from friends at Axis and the Hospices, Amy and I wanted the chance to say a huge heartfelt thank you to you all.”

Thanks to the generosity of our guests and the people of Axis, the Axis Foundation’s annual charity ball in 2019 raised a record breaking amount for Demelza and the Oliver Fisher Neonatal Unit. More about the charity ball here

More about Oliver Fisher Neonatal unit here

More about Axis and Demelza here

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News

Journey to our 10th birthday

In 2019, we celebrate our Axis Foundation’s 10th birthday. During this Decade of Donations we have given over £1.4 million to 200 small, impactful and local causes.

People power

The people of Axis set the very first Foundation stone with their generosity of spirit.

Axis CEO and Foundation Trustee John Hayes set up the Foundation in 2009 to “formalise and capture all the elements of giving that already existed across the company, particularly giving back in the communities where we were working”.

Axis people – demonstrating never-ending enthusiasm and inventiveness in their fundraising activities – have made the Foundation such a great success in this Decade of Donations that a new Fundraising Hero Award was launched in 2019 to acknowledge their support.

Award-winning Foundation

This universal support throughout the company was one of the reasons the Foundation won the Corporate Foundation Category in the highly prestigious Business Charity Awards 2018. Presenting the award, sponsored by Third Sector, the Judges commented on “good employee involvement” and the “passion” behind the Foundation.

One million landmark

In the same year the Foundation hit the £1m donated mark with a donation to For Jimmy in south east London.

Sticking to original values

The Foundation has stuck to its original remit of helping mainly small, local and impactful causes – in giving a hand up, rather than a hand out. All of the money – that raised by Axis people, plus through a corporate donation and funds raised by generous guests at the Axis Foundation Charity Balls and Golf Days – goes straight to these causes: not a penny is wasted.

 

10th Birthday Year

Our generous Axis people and our clients and supporters made our 10th birthday year a real record breaker with top amounts raised at our Alan Curbishley Charity Golf Day and our annual Axis Foundation Charity Ball.

The Future

With the support of our people, our clients and with the partnership and friendship of our charities, the Axis Foundation looks forward to another Decade of Donations!

 

 

 

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Axis Foundation logo, large red number ten and twitter logoNews

Best Birthday Wishes to Foundation

Foundation Fans send us best birthday wishes, thanks and love

You might have noticed, there’s been a bit of a fuss on Twitter about our Foundation’s 10th birthday.

Here’s just a few of the wonderful messages we received as we celebrated a Decade of Donations.

 

Thank you so much for your continued support! Happy 10th birthday Maypole Project

Your support is invaluable. Thank you St John’s Hospice

Our grant enabled us to bring children from deprived areas into our amazing natural space to learn outside. Thank you Holly Lodge

We are SO grateful for your support for our work Beyond the Streets

Happy 10th birthday and thank you for your support For Jimmy

Congratulations and here’s to another 10 years Support Tommy Brown

Happy 10th birthday and thank you for your support from all of us at The Choir with No Name

Happy 10th birthday and thank you for your support Bentilee Volunteers

Both Axis and the Axis Foundation have been one of our longest partnerships and they hold a very special place in our heart Demelza

Thank you Stepney City Farm

Happy Birthday Vauxhall City Farm

Happy 10th Birthday. Thanks so much for your support  Freddie Farmer Physio

Thank you for funding a new batch of anti-suffocation pillows Hope Epilepsy

Thank you for the support this season Basildon Boys and Girls

Goes without saying what fantastic support you have been for us. More young members have joined our club giving them a safe and enjoyable place to come to. Thanks Axis Swale Gloves

Fantastic gesture, thank you very much Walsall Wood FC

Thank you for supporting us – your grant is helping us to make theatre accessible to all Worcester Life/Swan Theatre

Thank you so much for your amazing support Cyclists Fighting Cancer

Happy 10th Birthday! A very big Heart of Kent Hospice thank you for your support Heart of Kent Hospice

Thank you from all of us at St Clare’s Hospice

Happy 10th Birthday to the wonderful Axis Foundation who have supported us with a grant to provide therapy packs for children We really appreciate their support The Movement Centre

Thank you for your wonderful support! Happy 10th Birthday! Newlife

A big thank you… We couldn’t do what we do without the help of foundations like Axis. Happy 10th Birthday, and here’s to another decade! Omega Care for Life

Happy 10th Birthday to the Axis Foundation and thank you for your continued support OXSRAD

Happy 10th birthday and thank you for your support TAG Youth Club

Thank you so much for your support! Happy Birthday! Momentum

Happy 10th birthday and thank you for your support with our project here in Birmingham, helping homeless people gain the literacy skills they need to achieve Fluence Foundation

There’s more about our 10th Anniversary Celebrations here

 

 

 

 

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