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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London Wheelchar Rugby Club Team PhotoDonations

London Wheelchair Rugby Club

January 15, 2019By

Enabling people with disability to enjoy benefits of Wheelchair Rugby

The London Wheelchair Rugby Club offers many benefits to people with disability as Wheelchair Rugby is a great way to get fit and be part of a team..

Because of the constant high-impact collisions in the game, the specialised wheelchairs often need a wheel replacement, new tyre or tube. The safety equipment also often needs replacing or updating. So, the Axis Foundation’s donation of £2,000 will buy wheelchair spares and training equipment.

“Our aim has always been to lift the burden financially from our players who often live day to day on disability benefits. If we can be the one to find the next £1 then they can be left to concentrate on playing the sport they love. Whether it’s trying to reach the heights of competing for Great Britain at the 2020 Paralympics or being able to forget about their day to day worries for a few hours at training, this is our aim as a club.

Without your help and very generous donations this would be near impossible for us to achieve. Everyone at the London Wheelchair Rugby Club thanks you for helping us achieve the goals we set ourselves and the club collectively and hope that our relationships continue on for as long as you can continue to support us.

“We are delighted as the grant will help us so much! We are training for the 2020 Paralympics now and really hoping some of our amazing players will be selected again! We are so proud of them and what they have had to overcome. They really are an inspiration” – Steve Palmer, Chairman

More About Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair Rugby, with its requirements of speed and agility, is a great way to get fit and be part of a team, especially for those with higher levels of disabilities. Many have very few options to take part in sport. Rehabilitation through sport brings huge benefits, not just physically but psychologically too with increased independence and a social network too. Four LWRC players represented GB in the 2016 Paralympics. We hope to see them represent Team GB in the next Olympics too!

“It’s the beginning of an amazing journey for me and I have such a sense of accomplishment and joy” – LWRC member, Oliver Mangion, 21

 

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Man and boy at gym in adaptive sports centreDonations

OXSRAD

January 3, 2019By

Improvements at adaptive sports centre for people with disability

At OXSRAD 500 people with severe physical, mental or behavioural disabilities can enjoy the benefits of exercise and activities to the limit of their abilities.

The centre, based in Oxfordshire, provides various activities and adaptive sports programs such as Rebound Therapy, Archery, Over 50s’ Keep Fit, Gym Classes, Zumba, spinning, a spa bath for water therapy, a sensory room, studio, sports hall, fully equipped adapted gym, bar and café area. The OXSRAD building, opened by Princess Diana, is now nearly 30 years old and still uses the original boiler system to heat the building and supply hot water.

So, OXSRAD secured £5,000 from Sport England and the Axis Foundation’s donation will match this to fix the boiler.

“Securing this funding means that we won’t have to worry about the boiler breaking down any more and will have hot water throughout the centre for years to come. We are extremely grateful to Axis for providing the funding for our boiler project. AXIS is a continued supporter of OXSRAD and makes a real difference to the services that we can offer to our members including people with severe physical, mental or behavioural disabilities and the local community”  – Sarah Buy, Fundraising Manager

More About OXSRAD

The adaptive sports centre is a great place to gather and meet people socially. Many people with severe physical, mental or behavioural disabilities come here for company, a cup of tea and a chat with like-minded individuals. The centre reduces isolation and loneliness in an already marginalised group. Other users will come to the centre for rehabilitation following an accident or injury. The centre also plays a vital role in the local community and is used by over 1200 local residents, associate groups and able-bodied members. If OXSRAD didn’t exist, many users would simply have nowhere to go.

 

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

December 12, 2018By

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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Demelza Award for Arctic Challenge Extreme fundraising trekDemelza

Prize for Chilly Challengers!

November 23, 2018By

The Axis Arctic Challenge team wins coveted Demelza Business Prize for their extreme fundraising adventure on behalf of our charity partner

The Axis Arctic Challengers raised funds for Demelza Children’s Hospice by braving the cold, heat and dangers of the Arctic. They conquered Mount Kebna – dizzy heights indeed!

The challengers are Christopher Houlihan, Gary Perfect, Philip Twin John Bull and Daniel Blake. Through the hardships of snow, heat, dizzy fits, thirst and hunger, they said that what kept them going was remembering the children for whom Demelza cares.

This was reward in itself for the challengers. But they were delighted to learn that their supreme efforts scooped them Demelza’s Bespoke Fundraising Event of the Year Award – We were also nominated for the Silver Outstanding Corporate Supporter Award!

The judges said

Announcing our win, the judges said that our team “took on a tremendous challenge… They hit extreme and unexpected weather, even causing them hallucinations! But they battled through and completed their trek. Very worthy award winners.”

We said

Our Arctic Five said: “We are so pleased that Demelza gave us this award. We pushed ourselves to a place we did not know existed. We kept thinking about the kids at Demelza. We had a hard few days. Their entire life is hard. We got a real sense of achievement.”

Our Community Investment Coordinator Kellie Durey said: “We cannot thank Demelza enough for our nominations and the big win: it is lovely to see that our support is both appreciated and recognised.”

Congratulations to the Axis Arctic Challengers for their extreme fundraising efforts!

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Arden Forest football team players posing in their green and yellow football kit.Donations

Arden Forest FC

November 9, 2018By

Junior football club wears new kit with pride

Based in Solihull, West Midlands, Arden Forest FC is a junior football club that plays in the Central Warwickshire Youth League, challenging teams from Leamington and Warwick and the West Midlands area. The junior football club which was founded in 1981 and is run by volunteers, gives local boys and girls the chance to work together, encouraging team spirit, hard work and lots of goals!

Teams range from Under 7s to Under 15s: in 2017 the u14s won the Treble of the premier league and two cups! Such champions – local to our office in Oldbury – deserve good kit.

And so, the Axis Foundation is sponsoring branded tracksuits and kit bags for their Under 15s side with a grant of £1,000.

“I would like to thank the Axis Foundation for their generous donation to the u15s team. This will go towards buying the lads tracksuits and kit bags so they can turn up to games looking like the Premier League Champions that they are.

“This season has started just the same as last with the lads winning every game so far, so hopefully it will be another successful year. Hopefully they can win the treble again this season. From the manager, myself, the lads and the parents we would like to thank the Axis Foundation for the donation”- Dave Pearson, Team Coach

 

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A lady feeds a sheep at Stepney City FarmDonations

Stepney City Farm

November 6, 2018By

Flourishing education programme at urban farm project

Stepney City Farm is a working farm, providing environmental education and outdoor learning in Tower Hamlets. The grant of £5000 from the Axis Foundation will purchase desks and chairs for their classroom and replace deteriorated furniture.

“We are delighted to have been awarded this support from Axis. The positive impact on lives of green space, ecotherapy, working with nature and animals, gardening and green-care initiatives is well documented: the Farm provides a free and unique facility for these activities for local communities in the heart of one of the most deprived boroughs in the country.

“Our Classroom facilities are key to delivering our environmental programming, providing an indoor learning space used for our curriculum-linked schools programme, young and adult volunteering sessions, bespoke workshops, family events, and our dementia intervention group. The upgrade to the furniture will make the space infinitely more flexible and increase our capacity to deliver sessions and further develop our programming” – Clare Hawkins, Chief Executive 

More About Stepney City Farm

The farm hosts curriculum-linked activities for over 5,000 school children every year. Local children, many of whom rarely get the chance to travel outside of the city, can grow their own food, experience rural arts and crafts and connect with nature.

The urban farm project is based in Tower Hamlets, an inner-city community in London with one of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK. Their educational programmes enable local youngsters, including young offenders and children with special educational needs, to build life skills and confidence and reduce feelings of isolation.

Their Farmer’s Market provides the area with a source of affordable, organic produce. The ‘Furry Tales’ programme provides animal-assisted therapy to those living with dementia. Their volunteer programme brings together 500 participants a year, including those with higher level support needs benefiting from greencare activities, and workers who are keen for an escape from urban life.

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Youth football players at Basildon Boys and Girls Club.Donations

Basildon Boys and Girls Club

November 5, 2018By

Youth Football Club receives game-changing grant

Basildon Boys and Girls Club is a registered charity that provides football coaching and training for children from 7 to 18 years of age with a free Mini Kicker Club for 4-7-year olds. They provide support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Essex-based youth football club is a key player in the local community, keeping kids active and helping them to chase their footballing dreams.

Our donation of £1,500 will pay for the youth football club’s new kit, footballs and essential training apparatus enabling the kids to play the beautiful game with equipment that’s fit for champions.

“All children should be given the opportunity to play sport, it gives them something to focus on and they love meeting up with their friends each week and being part of a team.
“I have been with the Club for over 25 years and it has been great watching the players progress over time. The younger ones in particular are really positive and just love football so much” – Matthew Bacon, Club Chairman

More About Basildon Boys and Girls Club

Formed in 1963, Basildon Boys and Girls Club has been providing coaching to young footballers for over 50 years, developing sporting skills of several generations of children.
In the Essex County FA Awards 2018 the club enjoyed double success – with their Club Secretary & Welfare Officer winning Volunteer of the Year and the Under 15’s winning the Fair Play Award. The Club has introduced Youth Ambassadors this season, empowering players within the teams to be the voice of the youth at the club, to help the committee shape the future of the club by providing feedback.

The youth football club prides itself on creating a fun and friendly environment for youngsters to play football, but it’s about much more than just kicking a ball around. Respect, fair play and inclusion are at the heart of everything they do. The club’s coaches help children from disadvantaged backgrounds to build confidence, motivation and stimulate their minds as they progress into adulthood.

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Performance at Aldridge Youth TheatreCommunity

Aldridge Youth Theatre

November 1, 2018By

Safe stage for Youth Theatre Group

Aldridge Youth Theatre is a community centre in Walsall that gives local youngsters the chance to express themselves through acting. The registered charity, founded in 1975, provides support to 80 people between 10 and 18 years old, providing them with a creative environment in which to build life skills, confidence and team spirit.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £2,000 to the theatre will pay for a new Smoke Extractor Fan. This will provide assurance to the community that the building and those inside it will be safe in the event of a fire. This will make the youth theatre health and safety compliant, so that local children can continue to grow, learn and build lasting friendships in a risk-free environment.

More About Aldridge Youth Theatre

The theatre is the cultural hub of the community, putting on regular plays, weekly rehearsals and live gigs, amongst a range of other community activities. For youngsters, it is a great place to meet like minded people and feel like part of the community. They pride themselves on their inclusive environment, which is like an open family to the people of Aldridge. The youth theatre is particularly beneficial to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, as it gives them the opportunity to build on their self-belief and motivation in an environment where they are free use their imagination without fear of judgement.

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