New Hoist Opens Up Riding to Individuals with Complex Mobility Needs
The Axis Foundation has awarded up to £10,815 to East Liverpool Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) to fund a new rider hoist system.
“Thank you so much for this fantastic news. We are delighted to be able to extend our reach and support even more people in our community” — Natalie Burns, Chair and Founder
The investment will unlock 10 additional hours of sessions per week, supporting up to 19 more participants weekly. It will remove barriers for individuals with complex mobility needs, enabling greater independence and participation.
Equine therapy improves physical health, confidence, emotional resilience, and social connection. The hoist also strengthens safeguarding and reduces manual handling risks for staff and volunteers.
There’s more about East Liverpool Riding for the Disabled Association here
New heating system supports vulnerable individuals facing isolation, homelessness or financial hardship
The Axis Foundation has awarded £10,000 to Simply Limitless towards a new heating and hot water system for its community centre in Kidderminster.
“This support helps us create a safe, welcoming space where our community can thrive” — Ralph Pars, Operations Manager
Simply Limitless delivers programmes supporting over 250 people weekly, including mental health support, employability training, and inclusive fitness sessions.
The new heating system is essential to make the new centre fully operational, enabling services to return under one roof and provide a warm, safe space for individuals facing isolation, homelessness, or financial hardship—particularly critical during winter months.
The Axis Foundation has awarded £8,995 to Open Hands in Leicester to support the purchase of a replacement van for their furniture service.
“This funding will make a real difference, helping us continue to provide essential support to those who need it most” — Matt Tomlin, Furniture Service Manager
“Your donation made a big difference in not only helping us to purchase the van, but to being able to do so quickly” – Heather Berry, Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Open Hands provides furniture, clothing, food, and household essentials to individuals and families in crisis. The van is critical to collecting and delivering donated items across the city.
With 9% of UK adults unable to afford basic furniture, demand continues to rise. The charity supported 380 individuals and 170 households in the past year through its furniture service alone.
A new, reliable vehicle will increase delivery capacity, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure continuity of service. It will directly support around 400 individuals annually, with wider indirect benefits.
Open Hands is a Leicester-based organisation tackling poverty and hardship through practical support. Learn more here
Specialist Mobility Chair Enhances Independence and Safety
Charlotte lives with congenital spinal stenosis linked to achondroplasia, requiring highly specialised seating and mobility support.
Charlotte’s current mobility chair, in use since 2007, was damaged in a road traffic accident and is no longer safe.
On hearing of her situation, the Trustees of the Axis Foundation awarded £4,235 to Charlotte to complete the purchase of a specialist Balder powerchair and extended warranty.
The new chair will enable Charlotte to travel safely, attend medical appointments, continue physiotherapy, and maintain independence in daily living.
Charlotte says: “Thank you very much for your contribution toward my new powerchair, I am extremely grateful for the generous grant. It wasn’t until I began using my new Balder that I realised how worn out my old one was.”
Specialist Equipment Provides Lifeline for Young Boy and his Family
Axis Site Supervisor Christian Florin Bagacian applied to the Axis Foundation through our Eyes and Ears initiative, on behalf of resident Gemma Wilson and her son Harvey Turrell in Sidcup.
While delivering works to adapt the family home, Christian identified urgent needs as Harvey receives end-of-life care.
The Axis Foundation awarded £1,750 to fund a specialist buggy, storage solutions, and custom footwear, alongside additional financial support for the family. These items will significantly improve daily care and mobility.
“Thank you so much for all your support on this good cause. Harvey’s mum received the news with such great happiness and gratitude for everything that we have done for them” — Christian Florin Bagacian
Harvey lives with multiple severe conditions, including Cri du Chat syndrome, profound learning disability, microcephaly, hypotonia, and sight impairment. He currently lacks suitable footwear due to delays in clinical decisions, limiting his ability to practise walking and standing. The buggy will support safe mobility, while storage will help manage essential medical equipment.
The support will ease physical and emotional strain on Harvey’s mother, particularly during temporary relocation while home adaptations are completed. It also ensures Harvey can move safely and comfortably.
New Equipment Transforms Therapy for Children with Complex Conditions
The Axis Foundation has awarded £1,447.54 to Steps Conductive Education Centre to purchase specialist outdoor play equipment.
“We purchased some toys and equipment with the grant including Peanut balls, also known as physio rolls, which are an important tool used at Steps as part of our conductive education sessions.
“They offer greater stability than traditional round therapy balls by limiting movement to forward and backward motion, while still providing the challenge of maintaining balance.
“So they help children develop gross motor skills, core strength, postural stability, balance and body awareness, encouraging children to move, adjust their position, remain engaged, and stay active in their learning.
“We are really grateful for the funding provided, which made it possible for us to purchase some valuable equipment into our setting. Families have shared positive feedback and truly appreciate the opportunities these resources offer” – Trish Mabbott, Fundraiser and Operations Manager
Steps supports children with complex conditions such as cerebral palsy and genetic disorders, helping them develop mobility, independence, and confidence through tailored therapy.
Outdoor equipment plays a vital role in physical development and engagement. It supports mobility, coordination, and learning in an environment where many children thrive. Sessions also equip parents with skills to support development at home, providing vital emotional and practical support.
Learn more about Steps Conductive Education Centre here
Thanks to our amazing friends, guests and supporters we raised over £160,000 at the 2025 Axis Foundation Charity Ball.
This incredible amount is shared as ever between Demelza, our charity partner, and the Axis Foundation.
This was a particularly special Charity Ball for us – we had even more than usual to celebrate at this year’s prestigious event.
Magnificent Milestones
In addition to sharing the great news that we have changed many lives for the better, whether that be helping a
seriously ill child and their family at Demelza, or donating to small, local and impactful causes via our
Foundation, we were delighted and proud to share with our guests some fantastic milestones we have reached in 2025.
£3m raised!
First is the news that we – with the help of our friends – have donated an incredible £3m to 430+ causes in our
16-year history. We think that is something to be very proud of.
£1m to Demelza
Next up is the fact that our donations to Demelza have topped the £1m mark. Again, none of what we achieve would be possible without the generosity of our supporters..
John Hayes awarded MBE
And last – but truly not least – you may have heard that our founder John Hayes was this year awarded
an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list for charitable services. We are as proud of John as he is of this recognition of our remarkable charity.
See more here!
You can see some examples of the causes we have supported this year here.
Once more a great big thank you to all our guests who really joined in the fun, supported our auctions,
table games and raffle and enjoyed our music, magic and dancing, as well as the delicious
dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel.
Thank You to all the following who all so kindly supported our charity ball by booking a table …
A to Z Stone Repairs
AC Davis Electrical
ALP Group
Barwin
City Plumbing
Crown Paints
DMD
DMJ
Dynes Group
Enviro Contract Solutions
Estec Engineering
Exterior Plas
FFT
First Choice Drainage
Fleetwood
Hall & Gertski
John Hayes
Tim Hayes
Heron
Howden
Howells
Joe Ibrahim
LMP Installations
Martin Arnold
Meru
Peter Varney Associates
Pioneer Site Services
Premier Property
R.E.B Group
Regen Solutions
Rubix M&E
Russell Trew
Sei Contractor
Stak Scaffold
Stonegrove
Symphony Windows
TSM Heating Services
TW Drainage
UAS
UK Roofing
VH Electrical
VivBuild
… And to these generous friends who donated to the ball or contributed prizes and gifts
Abal Environmental Services
Abdelmalik Hamli
Electrician Network UK
Eres Group
Exterior Plas
Fleetnetix
Sarah May Hayes Bid Writing
Margo Manning
NIAA People
SecureTec
Medway Scaffolding Solutions
Heldrone
And to our sponsors …
A-Z Stone Repairs – Event
Sponsor
NxtGen – Event Sponsor
Stonegrove – Event Sponsor
Symphony Windows – Band Sponsor
… And, as always, a big thank you to …
Alan Curbishley – tireless Patron of the Axis Foundation
Steve Sutherland – our wonderful MC
Charles Hanson – our fabulous auctioneer
Axis Foundation celebrates donating £1m to Demelza in 2025
This year, the Axis Foundation marks a milestone: we have donated a total of £1m to Demelza, our charity partner.
That we have achieved this amazing figure in our 16-year history of giving is – in huge part – a tribute to the generosity of our supporters who have donated so generously, and our volunteers to have given their time to raise funds for our charity partner.
These words come direct from Demelza to you!
“This year, Demelza is proud to be supporting over 2,700 children and family members. Each day, we strive to reach more children living with serious or life-limiting conditions, while continuing to strengthen the care and support we already provide to families who rely on us.
“Everything we do is made possible by the kindness and commitment of our supporters. As a charity, we exist because of you – your generosity fuels every moment of care, every family visit, and every smile we help create, every bit of sunshine we bring into a child’s life.
“During our partnership with the Axis Foundation, this remarkable charity has donated over a phenomenal £1 million to us!
“As more children are living longer with increasingly complex medical needs, the demand for our services continues to grow. With your help, we’re determined to be there for every extraordinary child and family who needs our extraordinary care – today, tomorrow, and into the future.
“From all of us at Demelza, a heartfelt thank you to the Axis Foundation. Your belief in our work means more than words can say. Your unwavering passion, your creativity, and compassion have never failed to inspire us. The energy you bring to every fundraising effort and the dedication you show year after year truly make a difference. No act of support is ever too small – each one helps transform lives” – Lavinia Jarrett, Chief Executive Officer
“We are truly honoured and deeply grateful for the incredible support the Axis Foundation has shown us over the years. Reaching the milestone of raising and donating over £1 million is a remarkable achievement.
“Your commitment has improved the lives of countless children and their families across Kent and south east London, and we’re so proud to have you as part of our journey” – Louise Earl, Corporate Accounts Partnership Manager
These are just a few examples of how Axis employees support our charity partner Demelza!
Axis volunteers conducted a garden makeover at Demelza’s hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent. They helped to tidy up the gardens by weeding and clearing paths, and set up Christmas trees, a gingerbread house archway and an inflatable Christmas dinosaur.
Our Kate Thomson (Social Impact Coordinator) ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise funds for Demelza and also hosted a Cake Sale.
Axis Volunteers restored the memorial garden at Demelza Hospice in Sittingbourne ahead of the charity’s annual Memorial Weekend – a meaningful event for bereaved families.
And some of our Axis people bravely took part in the 26.2-mile challenge of the 2025 London Marathon, raising £4,500 for Demelza.
Newport Community First Responders plays a vital role in safeguarding the health of people living in and around Newport in Shrophsire. Operated entirely by trained volunteers, the group responds directly to 999 calls passed through the West Midlands Ambulance Service Control Room.
The Axis Foundation has awarded them £10,000 towards a new Community Response car to replace the group’s ageing existing vehicle.
“That’s absolutely fantastic news thank you. Switching to a plug-in hybrid will reduce fuel costs significantly and create long-term environmental benefits. The new vehicle will secure the future of the First Responders’ Scheme for the next decade, ensuring volunteers can continue bridging the widening gap between the 999 call and ambulance arrival.
“With emergency services stretched and delays increasingly common, the new vehicle will strengthen support for some of the area’s most vulnerable people, including the elderly and those with complex health conditions who require frequent urgent care.
“It will ensure that lifesaving, community-based emergency support remains available whenever it is needed most” – Russell Brooks, Community Response Co-ordinator
More about Newport First Responders
Since its formation, Newport First Responders has treated more than 11,000 people across a catchment area of 50,000 residents. Their community-based model enables them to reach patients quickly, particularly in remote rural areas where ambulance response times can take an hour or more.
Responders attend the most critical emergencies, including cardiac arrests, strokes, paediatric cases, falls from height and severe road traffic collisions. Equipped with lifesaving tools such as a defibrillator and oxygen, they can assess patients, deliver urgent treatment and relay vital information back to both the Control Room and receiving hospitals so clinicians can prepare treatment plans without delay. In the past year alone, their intervention has helped save the lives of two people in cardiac arrest.
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