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

Record-breaking Axis Foundation Charity Ball 2019

December 13, 2019By

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

December 13, 2019By

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

December 7, 2019By

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

September 26, 2019By

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

August 12, 2019By

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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Demelza Thank You videoNews

Thank You Videos for our 10th Birthday

July 8, 2019By

Demelza has been close to the hearts of everyone at Axis since the very beginning of the foundation. In fact, our involvement with Demelza extends even further back than the birth of the Axis Foundation; we’ve continuously supported them for 15 years.

As the foundation celebrates a decade of donations, Demelza looks back on what our support has helped them to achieve:

“You’ve helped our staff support families through the saddest time that I think most people can imagine, through the death of their child. You’ve also helped us create some of the happiest moments that those children and those families have had, helping them to experience adventures, new challenges… and create memories that live on forever.”
Ryan Campbell CBE Demelza Chief Executive

Watch the video to see what Demelza had to say about Axis’ support over the years:

Words from our other Charity Friends

Causes that we have supported over the years had plenty to say for our 10th Birthday. Here are some snippets from the special videos they sent us.

Elevating Success

“The Major benefits of the funding from the Axis Foundation was to support the local residents, especially young people in celebrating their achievements to the community.”
Watch the full video here

Freddie Farmer Foundation

“The Axis Foundation have really helped us to achieve funding for this machine which has been hugely beneficial for the children…”
Watch the full video here

Arts For All

“We were able to take 12 adults with learning disabilities on a holiday to Devon with the donation, an event that they look forward to every year…”
Watch the full video here

Accuro

“Your donation has helped us continue to provide transport that supports people with disabilities maintain their mobility and social connnection.”
Watch the full video here

For Jimmy

“With the funding from Axis we were able to start our young citizens program, to go into school to work with young people, encouraging them to be the change makers and to make our communities safer…”
Watch the full video here

Holly Lodge

“With your donation we were able to bring 10 classes from deprived areas and we also worked with 2 classes of children with disabilities allowing children to get outside and discover nature…”
Watch the full video here

Ragged School Museum

“We are very grateful to the Axis Foundation because they gave us money towards our family learning holidays… We couldn’t do without this help.”
Watch the full video here

 Imber Metz

A massive thank you to the Axis Foundation…Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to do half of what we actually do.”
Watch the video here

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Axis Person fundraising for Demelza with skydiveNews

In our Element – 12 Months of Fun Fundraising

May 22, 2019By

Axis people are in our element – snow, ice, water, air, mud – when we are fundraising. Swimming, boxing, flying, running, climbing, walking, dancing, eating (even not eating) – there’s no stopping us!

In the last twelve months (2018/9) we raised nearly £40,000 for Demelza Children’s Hospice and of course our very own Axis Foundation. You’ll have seen us in our office-based Axis Bake Offs and Charity Dress Down Fridays. Plus you may have spotted some of us:

In the Water

Laura Tuck’s Swimming Challenge raised £565

In the Air

Sadie Hack’s Skydive raised £768

In the Ring

Rebecca Lock’s Kickboxing Tournament raised £110

On Terra Firma

22 Axis Tough Mudders got down and dirty and raised £4,500; 20 of our lovely RLOs took a more sedate walk in the park, raising £1,300. Nicola Williams’ South Coast Challenge raised £1,300; Nayim Rahman’s City Runs contributed £447 and our brave runners who completed The Big Half Marathon put £4,000 into the collection tin.

And on Terra not so firm!

Five Men on summit of Arctic Mountain for Demelza Arctic Challenge Fundraiser
Ain’t no mountain high enough! Our brave chilly challengers, Axis Arctic Challenge Team completed a four-day 100km trek up Mt Kebnekaise, the highest mountain in Sweden and raised £10,000. Their hearts were greatly warmed by enthusiastic peer support at the Arctic Challenge Quiz Night (£1,700) and Race Night (£1,200). Their courage scooped them Demelza’s Bespoke Fundraising Event of the Year Award.

On the Dance Floor

Our Axis Disco raised funds to the tune of £2,000.
And finally…

On – and off – a Diet

Selection of cakes at Bake sale fundraising for Demelza
Afternoon Tea Week and Sarah Cooper’s Cake sale put £400 worth of icing on the cake; Michelle Wilson’s Biggest Loser Competition gained an impressive £78. And the seven brave chocoholics who gave up chocolate during Dechox for Demelza added a sweet £745 to the melting pot.

But that’s not all!

Our annual Axis Foundation Charity Ball and Axis Foundation Celebrity Golf Day both took place again this year, adding even more to the fundraising pot for great causes.

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Ten years of giving logo is Large-10-graphic-with-red-anniversary-bannerNews

Decade of Donations – our 10th birthday

March 1, 2019By

The Axis Foundation celebrates 10 years of giving in 2019.  Since the Foundation started making donations, we have given over £1.3 million to 170 small, impactful and local causes.

Ten years of giving

Since 2009, in hospitals and hospices we have provided vital equipment and improved facilities for the sick and those with life-limiting illnesses. We have funded medical research into children’s illnesses and provided nursing care.

The Foundation has supported anti-knife crime and youth safety initiatives. And reached out the hand of friendship to those who are isolated through practical donations in the form of adapted minibuses and cars.

We have helped vulnerable children and adults feel safe and warm and to meet, socialise and engage in activities as well as receive appropriate care and facilities.

Money perhaps cannot buy happiness, but our donations have certainly brought millions of smiles and support and relief to those in need.

Where we started

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

Says CEO John Hayes: “I set the Foundation up originally to try and formalise and capture all the elements of “giving” that we were already doing right across the company. To say it has exceeded my wildest expectations in ten years of giving is a massive understatement.”

Axis people – ten years of fundraising activity

To support the charitable arm of their company Axis people demonstrate amazing enthusiasm and inventiveness in in ten years of giving. They have run marathons, climbed mountains, abseiled and jumped from planes with parachutes. The braved tough mudders and paintballing. Others test their brain cells at Quiz Nights and bake beautiful products for sale. Some have had their heads shaved or danced til they drop at a fundraiser disco. There is no limit to their imagination, resourcefulness or their generosity.

And our friends and clients help too…

Further funds are raised through our Charity Golf Day and Charity Ball where our very generous guests dig deep for the Foundation.

And it all goes to…

The funds they all raise go into the Axis Foundation, along with a sizeable corporate donation from Axis. From here here they are distributed to small, worthy and local causes, to give people a hand up – rather than a hand out.

Thank you

… To all who have helped the Foundation’s work in the communities we serve. Here’s to the next ten years of giving!

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Axis Foundation donations hand up graphicNews

Foundation First: Generous January

February 1, 2019By

Axis Foundation kicks off 10th birthday celebrations with new initiative, Generous January

Generous January invited all Axis people to submit their ideas of local and impactful individuals, charities, clubs and community organisations that they cared deeply about and thought might benefit from some New Year Cheer. Because they live and work in local communities, Axis people are excellently placed to nominate those who would most benefit from a hand up – rather than a hand out!

All the nominees were submitted to the Axis Foundation Trustees in January 2019 – and they all received a donation! The Axis Foundation has already celebrated two Big Christmas Giveaways which, with their first Generous January, makes a total of £30,000 donated to nominated ‘giveaway’ causes.

Nominations and Donations

Sands Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity
Foundation Donation provides medals for fun day

Cunningham House Care Home for People with Dementia North Weald
Foundation Donation contributes to sensory room helping people with cognitive and physical impairments

DOTS, Dogs on the Street, caring for the pets of homeless people
Foundation Donation helps with running costs/every day costs

Holland’s & Blair Under 8s
Foundation Donation goes towards equipment to further develop them as footballers and as a team

Tubbenden Primary School, Orpington
Foundation Donation goes towards buying play and garden equipment

Sophie’s Wish
Foundation Donation goes towards installing a wheelchair ramp at the holiday home for sick children

Resident in Social Housing
Foundation Donation refurbishes an elderly resident’s flat and buys new bedding and equipment to make a home

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Charity Ball

Axis Foundation Charity Ball 2018

December 29, 2018By

Our generous guests at glamorous black-tie fundraiser support Demelza Children’s Hospice and the Axis Foundation

Thanks to the continued support of our guests, we have raised over £700,000 from our Axis Foundation Charity Ball nights.

In 2018, we hosted our 13th Axis Foundation Charity Ball. The event has become one of our biggest annual fundraisers.

The Axis Foundation Charity Ball raises funds through table bookings as well as from raffle ticket sales, a silent auction and a glittering charity auction at the event itself. Our super-generous guests dig deep on the night – and many support the work of the Foundation all year round too.

After the ball is over…

Once sums have been added up, proceeds from the ball are then distributed to the Axis Foundation (from where they are donated to small, local and impactful causes) and to our Charity Partner Demelza Children’s Hospice.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duNdXq_Kmsk

Demelza Children’s Hospice and Axis

In 2018, we marked our 14th year of our charity partnership with Demelza.

“Axis is one of Demelza’s biggest supporters and Demelza is overwhelmed by our incredible relationship with Axis. From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of our families, thank you” – Ryan Campbell, Chief Executive Demelza Children’s Hospice

Demelza Children’s Hospice is committed to helping children with life-limiting illnesses and offering support to their families. Everyone who works at Axis holds Demelza dear in their hearts. Most of the company’s fundraising activities – which include mud assault courses, climbing in the Arctic, abseiling and swimming the channel as well as gentler bakeoffs and dress down Fridays – are to raise money for the hospice.

Ryan Campbell continues: We are so proud to be Axis’ chosen charity. A Company and Foundation who truly put caring at the heart of their business. We are overwhelmed every year by their kindness and generosity to the extremely ill children we support. We really couldn’t continue to provide our tailored expert care to so many families without them.”

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who gave their time to make the Axis Foundation Christmas Charity Ball nights such wonderful occasions – and particularly to Alan Curbishley, our generous Foundation patron, to our MC Steve Sutherland and of course to our incredibly generous guests.

The Axis Foundation

The Axis Foundation donates funds and grants to small, local and impactful causes within the communities we serve across the UK.
In 2018, the Axis Foundation celebrated donating £1m to 110 such causes – and in the same year scooped the Corporate Foundation category of the Business Charity Awards. These awards are sponsored by Third Sector, the charity sector’s most influential publication.

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