Demelza Thank You videoNews

Thank You Videos for our 10th Birthday

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

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

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

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

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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News

Donation to Demelza – £70,000 – at our 2018 Golf Day

We presented our donation to Demelza  – a cheque for £70,000 – at the second Alan Curbishley Celebrity Golf Day in May 2018.

John Hayes, Axis Europe’s CEO, presented the cheque to our charity partner saying: “Demelza has remained dear to the hearts of all Axis people for a long time and we shall continue to support this incredible charity in their work ‘adding life to days when days cannot be added to life.’ I know that I speak for everyone at Axis when I say how profoundly moved and delighted we are to have a charity partner which has such an impact on those lives it touches.

“I am delighted to present this donation to Demelza: a cheque for £70,000 from all of us at Axis, knowing that this donation will make a real difference in Demelza’s hands.”

Ryan Campbell CBE, Demelza Chief Executive,  said: “Axis Europe and the Axis Foundation have been fantastic to us with unwavering, constant support for the last 14 years, raising over £540,000. We are so proud to be one of Axis’s chosen charities.
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.
“On behalf of these babies, children and teenagers and their families; our staff and our volunteers, thank you so so much for this Donation to Demelza 2018.”

Thanks to our generous guests and supporters, our second celebrity golf day raised £26,000 which will support Demelza and many small local and impactful causes via the Axis Foundation.

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Tough Mudder fundraiserNews

Tough fundraisers

Axis people get down and dirty on a Tough Mudder challenge raising money for the Axis Foundation and for Demelza

Brave Axis people participated in the London South Tough Mudder, raising £4,512.50 for Demelza and the Axis Foundation. The challenge comprised a five-mile course with 13 challenging obstacles specifically designed to test teamwork and toughness. Participants were tested not only as individuals, but also as a team, with obstacles ‘Pyramid’ and ‘Hero Walls’ requiring team members to give each other a helping hand.

The rewards

The Axis Machine completed the course in just over 2 hours, and were rewarded with t-shirts, bandanas, a great sense of personal achievement, renewed team spirit – plus over £4,500 in the bank for great causes.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqqOqX5_NMs

Axis people said

After it was all over, our people recommended the challenge as a teambuilding exercise – remembering all the time that they were raising awareness and funds for two great causes.

“Whilst waiting at the start line we were told it was not a race, but an endurance test. It gave us the opportunity to tackle some adversities as a group along the way”
Catherine Weedon, Senior Resident Liaison Officer.

 

“Amazing strength and team work got us through the course. It was a real accomplishment from all. Such a mixed bag of people but we moved as a unit: the Axis Machine”
Tayla Hayes, Resident Liaison Officer

 

“It was a great day out. Very enjoyable, everyone got stuck in (quite literally for some people), but great team building and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to partake in it”
Adam Perfect, Quantity Surveyor

 

“There will be always someone to help you get over any obstacles – great teamwork, proud to be part of Axis and part of the team”
Cristina Ionita, Assistant Contract Manager

 

“It exceeded my expectations – super happy that I did it and I will definitely do it next year. Amazing team spirit and good team bonding, and very happy that we supported our causes”Alexandru Condreanu, Site Supervisor

A big well done and thank you to everyone who participated!

Meet the Team

Adam Perfect, Quantity Surveyor
Alexandru Condreanu, Site Supervisor
Ben Ibrahim, Contract Manager
Brooklynne Straiko, Marketing Assistant
Cara Alexandrou, Office Administrator
Catherine Weedon, Senior RLO
Cristina Ionita, Assistant Contract Manager
Dave Allen, Contract Manager
Fiona McDougall, Quantity Surveyor
Heera Singhtaak, Quantity Surveyor
James Orphanides, Quantity Surveyor
Kayleigh Xidhas, Assistant Contract Manager
Keisha Feagan, Administrator
Kelly Hollis, Surveyor
Lee Pearce, Divisional Commercial Manager
Marc Jeffrey, Divisional Manager
Matthew Sams, Quantity Surveyor
Michael Oldfield, Trainee Quantity Surveyor
Sarah Denver, Marketing Assistant
Simon Mantle, Commercial Manager
Tayla Hayes, RLO
Tyler Sansom, Supervisor
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Axis Foundation trustees receive Corporate Foundation Prize at Business Charity AwardsNews

Axis Foundation wins Charity Award

We’ve Won!!

The Axis Foundation won the Corporate Foundation Category in the highly prestigious Business Charity Awards, sponsored by Third Sector.

The Business Charity Awards were presented at a glitzy black-tie dinner in London’s Marriott Grosvenor Square and recognise the outstanding support given to charities by UK businesses.

The Axis Foundation competed and won in the Corporate Foundation category against larger companies like Credit Suisse and Price Waterhouse Cooper, who are also doing fantastic work through their Foundations.

What our Trustees Said:

“Winning the Corporate Foundation category in the Business Charity Awards is not only a nod to the value of our charity’s activity and purpose, but a lovely way to show recognition to everyone who has helped us along the way” – Axis Foundation Chairman Peter Varney

“I am so happy and proud. Not just about this Award but everything the Foundation has achieved and how many people have supported us raising money and helped to identify the great causes we fund” – Axis CEO and Foundation Trustee John Hayes

What the Judges Said:

“The passion behind this foundation really shines through…Good employee involvement – both in terms of fundraising and in involvement with supported charities. There’s a good mix of funding – from corporate donations, to events, to staff fundraising.”

“The £1m donated figure is worth celebrating and a good way to demonstrate the impact of the Foundation… Axis are rightly proud of what they have achieved. The support of local causes fits well with the company’s purpose. It was good to see the corporate donation broken out versus events and staff fundraising. It feels like they are on a very positive journey.”

What Our Friends Said:

“Well-deserved recognition!” Shooting Star Chase

“Your success is measured by the thousands you have helped” Imber Metz

“Congratulations to all… well deserved” Maypole Project

“Many congratulations to you all… we are proud to work with you” Demelza

We’ve got a lot to celebrate!

We had two reasons to celebrate in 2018. We won at the Business Charity Awards whilst we were in the midst of celebrating a major milestone: donating over £1m to 110 small, local and impactful causes. And in 2019, we followed up with even more joy as we marked our 10th birthday, our Decade of Donations.

What a lot to celebrate!

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graphic of axis people, golfer, couple and bag of money surrounding large tenNews

Foundation History: forever at the heart of the community

When John and Tim Hayes formed property business Axis in 1986, the brothers also created Axis’ Core Values. Axis Core Value Number Six is A community we contribute to will welcome and value us. This was the  the cornerstone of what was to become the Axis Foundation – the heart of the community.

 

The Axis spirit

From very early days, the newly-fledged Axis actively gave back to the local communities where the business operated. Everyone who worked at Axis embraced the Core Values of the Company, particularly Core Value Number Six.

A spirit of giving ran through the company; fundraising activities were resourceful, imaginative – and successful – focusing on helping individuals and causes who could make a difference to local lives.

 

The Foundation stones

As CEO John says: “I set the Foundation up 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.”

John Hayes created the Axis Foundation in 2009; donations started formally in 2010.

The motto? To be “at the heart of the community”.

Perks of growth mean giving more

In the early days of the business, the family’s focus was clearly on developing a strong and successful business. Fast Forward to today, with an annual turnover of over £8m and with over 800+ people working for their company, brothers John and Tim Hayes can say that their business has indeed flourished.

And one of their greatest perks of growth and success has been their continued ability to support individuals and causes in the local communities where their business operates.

In 2019, the award-winning Foundation celebrates its tenth birthday; plus the fact it has donated more than £1.3m to over 170 small, local and impactful causes.

This money is raised through staff initiatives and fundraising activities, an annual corporate donation, plus generous support from clients at calendar highlights the Axis Charity Golf Day and the Axis Foundation Charity Ball.

Still at the heart of the community

In the Midlands, Thamesmead, Croydon, Cardiff, Liverpool and Kent as well as throughout London, for example, we work on long-term, renewed contracts with housing providers.

Investing in our local communities, we are able to source materials through local supply chains and offer employment and apprenticeships to young people.

We know that money cannot buy happiness per se, but on top of this community investment, the Foundation’s donations to small, impactful and local causes and individuals in these geographical areas, have brought many a smile to local faces!

The Axis Foundation is still “the heart of the community” – just as we were  in 2009!.

 

“Giving back is in our DNA. We’ve tried to focus on the areas where we’re active by supporting small and meaningful causes rather than big and grandiose ones. Everybody at Axis gets involved in one way or another through volunteering or fundraising” – Axis Foundation Trustee/Axis Chief Executive John Hayes

“Axis has always had a sense of social responsibility. The Foundation supports local causes that offer a direct benefit to those in need of a hand up, rather than a hand out” – Axis Foundation Chairman, Peter Varney

“The work of the Foundation is very important to us and I’m very thankful to everyone who contributes to its work. Through the efforts, enthusiasm, commitment and generosity of all our people, and our clients too, we can really make a difference” – Axis Foundation Trustee Sandie Ryan

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Axis patrons hold one million pound cheque.News

Axis Foundation milestone – one million pounds donated

Little charity celebrates donating a whopping one million pounds to small, local and impactful causes

In 2009 we started as a little charity with a big ambition: to give back to the areas that we are from and where we’ve grown, and to make a positive difference to the people and communities in those areas.

Fast forward to 2018 and the Axis Foundation is celebrating having given away one million pounds to over 110 such causes. PLUS we scooped the Corporate Foundation category of the Business Charity Awards!

“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 would be a massive understatement” John Hayes: Trustee, Axis Foundation; CEO, Axis Europe plc 2018

Our Millionth pound!

Our donation in 2018 to South East London charity For Jimmy took our total donations over the one million pounds mark.

“Whilst the value (one million pounds) is nice, we like to think about all the people behind the donations. Those who have been helped and those who have contributed, through fundraising and generous giving. This donation milestone celebration represents all of them.” Peter Varney, Chairman, Axis Foundation

How the Foundation helps

Perhaps money can’t buy happiness, but our one million pounds has bought a lot of smiles, support and relief to those who need it most.

The Foundation has helped hospices and specialist nurses to care for those with life limiting illnesses; contributed to scientific breakthroughs that extend life; provided mobility to those without it; reduced social exclusion; funded adapted minibuses and provided a lot of care, equipment, therapy, outings and experiences.

And that’s just a few of our projects! The number and size of donations has grown each year but we have stayed true to focusing on small, local and impactful charities and causes. We are on an exciting philanthropic journey that is continues to gather momentum each year.

“What is really exciting is that we are growing all the time and giving more to people and organisations in the communities we work in identified by our kind and caring people.” – John Hayes: Trustee, Axis Foundation; CEO, Axis Europe plc. 

Our Foundation fundraiser activities

The funds donated by The Axis Foundation come from an annual corporate donation from Axis Europe plc and funds raised through a charity ball and golf day as well as many fundraising events participated in by the people who work at Axis.

Thanks a Million!

Thank you to everyone who has supported us, worked with us, fundraised or given – indeed, thanks a million.

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