News

Axis’ Corporate Donation to Foundation 2024

December 24, 2024By

Axis, our parent company, makes a corporate donation to the Axis Foundation every year.

And this year is no exception: our new owners HIG agreed to continue our tradition in the form of a corporate donation of £100,000 to be made from Axis to our registered charity.

This sum – plus all the money we raised this year with the help of our generous supporters at our golf day and charity ball – is shared between Demelza, our charity partner, and the small, local and impactful causes the Axis Foundation has proudly supported for 15 years.

Plus our own amazing Axis people have made special donations in the form of time spent fundraising (running Marathons, climbing mountains!) as well as volunteering at Foundation charities and at Demelza.

This year, 2024 the Axis Foundation donated £500,000 to 50+ causes and individuals, changing the lives of many for the better. We:

  • Provided children with disability with therapy, mobility aids and bespoke activities
  • Supported the homeless, rough sleepers and those living in temporary accommodation
  • Funded positive emotional wellbeing support for disadvantaged and isolated people
  • Helped survivors of sex trafficking

That’s just a few – you can see more examples of our donations here

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Donations

Wildgoose Rural Training

December 17, 2024By

New classroom supports activities for disadvantaged adults and children

Wildgoose Rural Training provides activities for disabled adults and children who struggle with the normal education system and those facing problems with their mental health.

In 2023, the Trustees of the Axis Foundation awarded the Worcester based charity £10,000 to help build a new classroom.

The new classroom helped Wildgoose to expand its services and benefit a larger number of individuals in the local community and across Worcestershire.

 “Big thanks to Axis for supporting this project which has made a huge difference to our staff and students” –  Karen McConnell, Development Officer

And in 2024, the Foundation made a further award of £5,914 to build a new barn containing two new classrooms and a storage area. The extra classrooms mean an additional 14 students per day can join in the activities on offer.

More about Wild Goose

Wild Goose offers activities like agriculture, woodwork, mechanics, horticulture, animal husbandry, nature reserve management, cookery and a workstream program learning invaluable practical skills.

Through taking part in various activities students advance in the capacity and the skills required to support a more independent lifestyle.

There’s more here

 

 

 

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disadvantaged

Yantlet Residents’ Group 

December 12, 2024By

Garden pleasures for elderly and vulnerable people

Yantlet Residents’ Group helps 60 elderly and vulnerable people living in a sheltered housing complex connect and feel less isolated.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to help the group, based in Southend, with an award of £2,000. This sum will buy a new greenhouse for the gardens here, so that residents can grow their own plants, saving money whilst engaging in an enjoyable community activity.

Our donation will also support Yantlet Residents’ Group’s winter events programme. This includes a Christmas party for residents (with a raffle), and a Warm Hub where residents – some may be in financial hardship with no heating of their own at home – can relax and enjoy the comfort and safety it provides.

“Your very kind support we help us recover from last year’s vandalism where we lost £1,500 pounds worth of plants, trees and equipment which we need to replace. Your help has gone a long way to help us to move on. New security has given us peace of mind to move forward” – Leslie Parris, Chairman

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News

Axis Foundation Charity Ball 2024 raises £185,000

December 12, 2024By

Thanks to the generosity of our guests, sponsors and supporters, our 18th Axis Foundation Charity Ball raised an incredible £185,000

All proceeds from the ball go to our charity partner Demelza and to the Axis Foundation

The Axis Foundation supports through donations small, local and impactful causes; and Demelza looks after children with serious and terminal illnesses and their families. And our guests can be assured that every penny they donated on the night of the charity ball will reach an individual or a cause directly – and make a real difference.

As our Trustees’ Chairman, Peter Varney, said: “Thank you to all our guests for helping change lives for the better.”

We all enjoyed a truly wonderful evening with highlights including our auction (which featured a stunning pendant donated by jewellers G Collins & Sons), fun table games, a raffle, a delicious dinner and drinks plus music, magic and dancing – all in the splendid surrounds at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported us through sponsorship and donations – and to those who gave their time too, in particular our MC for the night Steve Sutherland and our tireless patron Alan Curbishley.

We are truly grateful.

See our full gallery of photos here and our our Charity Ball Programme here

Thank you…

….To all the following who booked a table …

  • A-Z Stone Repairs
  • AC Davis Electrical
  • Adeva Home Improvements BJL Electrical
  • Crown Paints
  • DM Jones
  • DMD Installations
  • DMG Offices
  • Dulux Decorator Centre
  • E&C Construction
  • Enviro Contract Solutions
  • Estec Engineering
  • Exterior Plas
  • FFT
  • First Choice Drainage Solution Gertski Wealth Management John Hayes, Founder Axis Foundation
  • Tim Hayes, MD Axis
  • Heron
  • Howdens
  • Howells
  • Integrated Solutions at
  • City Plumbing
  • J&D Pallet Services
  • Joe Ibrahim, MD Axis
  • LMP London
  • M&R
  • Margo Manning
  • Martin Arnold
  • Masons Scaffolding
  • Meru Services
  • Pioneer Site Services
  • Premier Roofing
  • REB Group
  • Regen Solutions
  • Russell Trew
  • SEI
  • Symphony Windows
  • Think Business Support
  • TW Drainage
  • UAS
  • Ultimate Services
  • VH Electrical
  • Peter Varney Associates

… and to these generous guests who have donated to the ball or contributed prizes and gifts …

  • Abdelmalik Hamli
  • AkzoNobel
  • Butler and Young
  • CLC
  • G Collins & Sons, Jewellers DFS Building
  • DSG Build
  • Gaia Newton Associates Hampson & Luck
  • H.I.G.
  • JLJ Decor
  • Kopa Scaffold
  • MC Builders UK
  • MMP Consultancy
  • Oakview Window Company Pinnacle ESP
  • Rose Construction
  • Stakot Construction
  • Summit 1986
  • Teco Interiors
  • Thomas & Thomas
  • Timeless Windows
  • TQW International
  • Wadesons
  • Zendrill

… to our sponsors …

  • Exterior Plas – Event Sponsor
  • Solace Electrical – Event and Champagne Reception Sponsor
  • Alandale – Photographers
  • Example Recruitment Group – Reception Trio, Santa Babies
  • Exterior Plas – Dinner Singer, Paul Holgate
  • GAA Design – Raffle
  • Jaw Roofing – Band, Soul Connection
  • Rocc – Raffle
  • Softcat – Raffle

… and, as always, a big thank you to …

  • Alan Curbishley – patron of the Axis Foundation
  • Steve Sutherland – MC for the night
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disadvantaged

Knight Support

December 12, 2024By

Chance to start again for homeless people and rough sleepers

Knight Support provides a vital service supporting homeless people and rough sleepers in Brighton and Hove

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £4,500 to Knight Support’s Home Comforts Project will buy electric kettles and toasters as well as pillows and duvets to add to Home Packs for people moving off the streets into temporary accommodation, where there may be only a bed.

Home Packs provide individuals with comfort, dignity and the ability provide for themselves. This can boost their self-esteem and morale at a time of need, and allow them to focus on rebuilding their lives.

“Thank you for the fantastic news regarding the grant that you are awarding us. We are extremely grateful to the Trustees of Axis Foundation for giving us the opportunity to continue to help our homeless clients get back on their feet when entering accommodation after a period of being on the streets.

“This makes such a world of difference to be able to offer this service and give people the chance to start over again and make a place feel like home” – Gemma Wright, Head of Operations

More about Knight Support here 

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Disability

Helping Disabilities Trust

December 12, 2024By

Home therapy for children with disability

Helping Disabilities Trust supplies – free of charge – toys and specialist equipment to disabled children

The Axis Foundation was delighted to award the London charity with £5,000 to buy specialist equipment, namely a waterbed, a weighted blanket, a sensory ball pool, a sensory bubble tube, a resonance rocker, a dream drum and a kinetic wonder wall.

“This picture shows your sensory bubble tube in usage by a girl suffering from autism. The family is very grateful to you for granting us the funding to purchase this. Although they can’t thank you enough, they will be grateful forever for the calm and serenity that you have brought into their lives.

“Helping Disabilities Trust is delighted and enormously grateful to the Trustees of the Axis Foundation for providing us with a donation of £5,000. On behalf of Helping Disabilities, I would like to thank you and all those involved in the Axis Foundation for partnering with us to improve the lives of disabled children” – Moishe Bodner, Chair

More about Helping Disabilities Trust

Helping Disabilities Trust’s “Equipped and Enabled” project supplies – on loan completely free of charge – specialist equipment to 100 disabled children and their families. This makes home therapy a reality, improves life skills and enables children to reach their full potential minus the costs.

There’s more about Helping Disabilities Trust here 

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disadvantaged

Glossopdale Furniture Project

December 12, 2024By

Home comfort for homeless

Glossopdale Furniture Project supplies donated items of furniture and household goods to people who have been homeless.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support the Derbyshire-based charity with a donation of £7,500 to purchase furniture packs.

“I am writing to thank you so much for your kind donation of £7,500 to support families by way of a free furniture pack.This grant will be of enormous help. Please pass on our thanks to your Trustees for all their support to the Glossopdale Furniture Project” – Joan Cook, Volunteer Fundraiser

More about Glossopdale Furniture Company

Glossopdale Furniture Project supplies donated items of furniture and household goods to people who have been homeless (who have been given a new but empty tenancy) and people on low incomes. In addition, Glossopdale Furniture collects 100 tonnes of good useable furniture every year, which would otherwise go to landfill. They have a workshop where volunteers restore old furniture and make new items from recycled wood which are then sold to the public.

There’s more about their work here

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Disability

Camp Jojo

December 12, 2024By

Camping freedom for children with disability

Camp Jojo helps children with complex needs and disabilities – many have life limiting conditions or reduced life expectancy – to enjoy a totally accessible, family-centred camping experience

The Axis Foundation was delighted to donate £5800 to Camp Jojo so they could buy two Alaska Size 1 tents.

With these specialist tents, Essex-based Camp Jojo can safely accommodate children with the most complex needs who need hoisting for moving and handling, and their families.

“At Camp Jojo, our motto is ‘everyone can’. Our visitors realise their potential through experiences they may have never previously thought possible. I can’t thank the Axis Foundation and your Trustees enough – you’ve made my weekend! This will mean so much to our families” – Helen Davies, Camp Jojo Fundraiser

Camp Jojo Patron Sally Philips (Alan Partridge, Bridget Jones, Smack the Pony, Green Wing, and Miranda) says: “Going on holiday with children who have additional needs is a challenge at the best of times. How wonderful it is that Camp Jojo has made it possible for families of children with complex needs to get away and enjoy a traditional, family,camping holiday singing around the campfire, sleeping in tents, getting muddy, toasting marshmallows and eating baked beans.”

There’s more about Camp Jojo here

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Disability

Red Eagle Foundation – Lyla

December 12, 2024By

Mobility and independence for child with rare genetic condition

Our donation to Red Eagle Foundation helps buy a specialist walker for Lyla

Lyla Treeby is two years and has a rare genetic condition which affects her muscle tone in all four limbs and trunk. She is impaired visually and unable to sit or roll by herself.

Lyla enjoys movements and is keen to explore, using her arms and legs when supported. Red Eagle want her to enjoy these movements in a safe way. And so they trialled her in a supportive walker called My Way from Leckey. This walker supported her well in her trunk and allowed her to use her legs better for moving around with assistance.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support Red Eagle’s application with a donation of £2910 to the Red Eagle Foundation to help buy a Lecky My Way walker for Lyla.

“This is a fantastic piece of equipment for Lyla as she can explore her space in a safe way and overcome her motor and visual disability. Lyla’s parents and I are very grateful to the Axis Foundation for their support. This equipment will be well used at home giving Lyla the independence to move around without being held all the time” – Dominic Comins, CEO

More about The Red Eagle Foundation

The Red Eagle Foundation empowers disadvantaged children and grants wishes to children with life-limiting illnesses. The Axis Foundation has previously supported Red Eagle Foundation and helped to buy an electric wheelchair and all-terrain buggy for Arthur, a young boy with severe learning disabilities and complex health needs.

There’s more about their work here 

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disadvantaged

Dodford Children’s Farm

December 12, 2024By

Bringing the joys of interacting with animals to city children

At Dodford Children’s Farm, disadvantaged inner-city children from Birmingham and the West Midlands benefit from interacting with all the animals here.

Interacting with animals – as well as freedom, fresh air and green spaces in nine acres of woodland and meadows – is proven to be particularly valuable to children from homes where keeping a pet is not an option.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support Dodford Children’s Farm with their application for funding.

We donated £3,000 to improve and refurbish (refencing, returfing and repaving) a small animal enclosure and the provision of new accommodation for their rabbits and guinea pigs.

“Young visitors really enjoy spending time with the rabbits and guinea pigs and it will be lovely to give the animals a nicer environment and the children better access to them, thanks to help from Axis Foundation. Interacting with these animals forms an important part of the children’s visit to the farm” – Judith Williams, Chair of the Management Committee

There’s more here

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