Two children who attend Kids Care playing on jungle gym.Disability

Kids Care

October 11, 2018By

Sleepaway camps for children with special needs

Kids Care London runs a summer sleep-away camp called Camp Horizons for children and young people with special needs.

The children are from low-income families who are unable to meet the cost of any holiday let alone that of a special residential camp designed for the specific needs of children with conditions like Down’s syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Asperger’s Syndrome. These kids are often excluded from accessing mainstream sport and leisure opportunities which require a high level of support.

The Axis Foundation made three donations to Kid Care London, totalling £18,000 (£5,500 in 2013, £5,500 in 2015 and £7,000 in 2016). These donations covered the cost of transport and entrance fees to Camp Horizons in Newham including at Olympic Park and Beckton.

“We wish you could have been there to share the children’s extreme joy. They really enjoyed their time on these fantastic trips. Thanks to the remarkable people at the Axis Foundation, once again, the sun shone on the children,” said Hannah Friedman, Kids Care London Director

“When you donated to Camp Horizon, your grant immediately went to work transforming the lives of so many children with special needs who joined our programme this summer. I want you to know that we truly could not have impacted all these children and their families without your help” – Debra Addis, Camp Horizon

More About Camp Horizons

At Camp Horizons, the two-week summer programme is specifically designed to promote independence, participation and social interaction. The programme also develops confidence and self-esteem.

Whilst enjoying indoor and outdoor activities including music, drama and sporting events, children with special needs meet other children just like themselves. They overcome challenges and embrace new opportunities. And because of the tranquillity of the rural surroundings they can really connect with nature and the great outdoors.

 

 

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Tough Mudder fundraiserNews

Tough fundraisers

October 3, 2018By

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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Swale Tigers team pose in their new orange football kit.Donations

Swale Your Way Tigers

September 14, 2018By

Mental health football club gets new kit

Swale Your Way is a local support group and their Football Therapy programme encourages those with mental health issues to play sport and improve their quality of life. Indeed, Swale Your Way Tigers Mental Health Football Club has enjoyed tremendous success: they were crowned victors of the FA People’s Cup in 2018. We are delighted that our donation of £3,050 will purchase brand new kit.

“Thanks to our funding from Axis Europe, the Tigers are able to go out in style and play good quality football in their vibrant new kit.  As we all know when you are looking great you feel great and thanks to our funding our players can enjoy going to matches feeling a million bucks!! Thank you to our sponsors” – Toni Golden Team Manager/Coach

More About Swale Your Way and The Tigers

Swale Your Way works with individuals as they overcome obstacles and move forward with their life. Swale Your Way might help someone enter education or return to work or find new hobbies, friends or social activities. They also manage psychological wellbeing, solve housing issues and organise finances.

Swale Your Way also runs many different trips and projects to benefit their service users empowering them to make positive change. These include a very successful allotment group and successful trips using their popular minibus.

Swale Your Way Tigers Mental Health Football Club improves the quality of life of people with mental health issues through sport. Kent FA  – impressed by the Tigers’ success  both on and off the field – have been working with the mental health football club to develop the first mental health football league in the county.

 

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Child plays with parent at CHAT children's charity.Disability

CHAT

September 4, 2018By

Family respite days for children with special needs

CHAT Children’s Respite Charity helps families with children who have special needs in Buckinghamshire. They offer short-term respite care including at-home care packages helping approximately 70 people ever year, alongside family day trips for approximately 40 people.

A little money goes a long way to help CHAT: just £20 funds an hour of respite care and can alleviate the depression and resentment towards the sick child which are common within such families as siblings often lose out on quality time with their parents.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £500 will fund summer day trips for careworn families to Gulliver’s Land Theme Park in Milton Keynes. The days out will provide entertainment and holiday spirit as well as much-needed respite from care. On top of transport and entrance tickets, the money we donated will contribute towards providing carers to assist the families on the day out.

 “It is a round-the-clock job caring for a sick child, and there is little opportunity for rest or for quality time with other family members. On behalf of CHAT and our families with children who have special needs whom we support I would like to thank Axis for your generous donation. Without the support of organisations like yourself we would be unable to provide these families with the respite care they so need. The respite that CHAT provides to these families is a life line. Thank you”  – Anthea Cass, Charity Fundraiser

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Children show Christmas cards they made with charity Accuro.Disability

Accuro

August 18, 2018By

Transport for young people and adults with a disability

For local children, young people and adults with a disability and their families Accuro offers a great range of activities and outings in West Essex. 

Our 2018 donation of £5,560 helped transport members to social activities including trips to the seaside. These respite trips reduce loneliness and provide fun, friendship and entertainment.

And in 2024 we made an additional donation of £12,500 to complete the purchase of a Citroen Enterprise Flexilite minibus with two wheelchair spaces.

“Thanks to everyone at AXIS – you have helped make a real difference to people with learning disability in West Essex. We can help our members learn new life skills, as well as reduce social isolation while increasing their confidence and giving them the independence and opportunity to integrate with their local community ” – Natalie Trapmore, Grants and Trusts Fundraiser

More About Accuro

The range of activities for local children, young people and adults with a disability and their families provided by Accuro is extensive. Initiatives for young people include the School Holiday Support Project offering 8-19 year olds with a disability opportunities to participate in leisure and social activities.

The Saturday Play Club offers 8-16 year olds with a range of disabilities and needs the opportunity to engage in constructive and imaginative play within a safe, caring environment developing confidence and self-esteem plus communication, social and life skills.

For adults with a disability, the Adult Friendship Scheme offers opportunities to take part in leisure and social activities.

There’s more here

 

 

See how the people at Accuro spent our donation – and hear their words of thanks as they join us and celebrate our 10th birthday in 2019

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Five Men on summit of Arctic Mountain for Demelza Arctic Challenge FundraiserDemelza

Axis Arctic Challenge

August 17, 2018By

Chilly Challengers Fly the Flag for Demelza on Arctic Fundraiser

Well done to the Axis Arctic Challengers who went all the way to the top of Mount Kebna in the Arctic Circle – raising funds for our Axis Foundation charity partner Demelza

The Chilly Challenge

Axis people Christopher Houlihan, Gary Perfect, Philip Twin John Bull and Daniel Blake decided they would take on the chilly challenges of the Arctic Circle to raise money for Demelza Children’s Hospice, the charity partner of both Axis and the Axis Foundation  supporting children with life-limiting illnesses.

The Adventure Begins!

On the first leg of their Arctic Challenge fundraiser, the team arrived at base camp on the first night – in great spirits if a little burnt and tired! The following day they went from 25 degrees C to minus 10; sweltering heat to hail and glaciers; hot rocky terrain to waist-high snow drifts; suffering cramp, dizziness painful injuries and bearing heavy kit: our Arctic Challengers certainly had to dig deep to reach the heights.

Would they do it again?

In total the Arctic Challenge fundraiser provided £10,000 for Demelza. They said:

“Yes, without a doubt we would do it again. We got a real sense of achievement. We pushed ourselves to a place we did not know existed. Throughout the Arctic Challenge fundraiser, we kept thinking about the kids at Demelza. We had a hard few days. Their entire life is hard. The money we raised will make a difference.”

An exclusive extract from the diary of the Arctic Challenge Team

“No sooner had we left the first valley did our fears become reality, a storm, fearsome freezing winds, hail & snow coming straight at us and whilst we needed to descend quickly our only route back was up into another valley totally exposed and heading into the storm. There was no safe opportunity for photos here. We stuck to what rockery we could but then found open snow to cross, increasing in distance as visibility was so poor and with the weather worsening all the time – thunder and lighting now!

“No option but to continue we pushed and pushed, falling down in snow or twisting ankles on rocks, with one of us even becoming stuck and needing to be dug out! The valley seemed endless and the weather relentless, progress was perilously slow. We were wet, cold through and totally exposed and our gear barely sufficient for such conditions!

“Eventually we began to descend and with it the hail and snow became rain and the wind lessened to allow us look up, what we saw was a long valley and 6 wet cold hikers! Kebna had broken us but not beaten us!”

Axis would like to thank the following for their support, sponsorship and pledges:
Advanced Drains, Camview Security, Clearline, D&D Plumbing & Electrical, Danacom Ltd, Hallowell Electrical, Hydrotech, Leander Services, M&R Ltd, Paul Grindley, Pump Practitioners, PV Electrical, Raysaleccy, Rob Mellish, Roofmaster, SH Plumbing, Synergy and W&K Interiors.

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Children play with child theraeutic equipment donated to Blooming Blossoms.Disability

Blooming Blossoms

August 10, 2018By

Helping disabled and disadvantaged children

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £4,500 to Blooming Blossoms will contribute to providing specialist therapeutic equipment which will help disabled and disadvantaged children to lead independent lives.

The equipment Blooming Blossoms purchased includes a Frame (to be used in conjunction with sensory swings, platforms and bolsters); a Steamroller Deluxe; a Helicopter Swing and a Stargate Swing.

“The donation from the Axis Foundation will make a massive difference in the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children Without the support of Blooming Blossoms many of these children will fail in their education and social lives. On their behalf I say thank you!” – Kayla Lew, Funding Officer

More About Blooming Blossoms

Based in the London Borough of Hackney, Blooming Blossoms is a free learning centre supporting approximately 80 children on a regular basis and upwards of 160 children through the drop-in options and out-of-hours Sunday-funday sessions and holiday play schemes.

Happy Haven here is a state-of-the-art Therapy Centre which offers both conventional and holistic therapies (including Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language, Drama Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy) so that children can hone and improve crucial life skills.
The children attending the learning centre are all from low-income homes and families: Blooming Blossoms offers their therapeutic services to all children referred to them, free of charge.

 

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Smiling members of the Arts For All groupDisability

Arts For All

August 2, 2018By

Vulnerable adults benefit from arts learning holiday

Arts for All helps vulnerable adults with learning disabilities. At the Shoreditch-based charity, friendship and acceptance replace isolation and low self-esteem.

Our donation of £5,000 (2018) funded a holiday to Devon. On the holiday, teachers delivered arts and crafts sessions. Members all took every opportunity for activity (swimming, go-karting, golf, badminton, Bollywood dancing, archery, snooker) discarding their sedentary lives with enthusiasm. They all brought home a new skill or hobby once the holiday was over – the best memento!

 “Each person felt they had learned new things that they never thought that they could do. They have come back to London armed with expertise and walking taller. They all know that they did really well and it has made them really feel that they have something positive to offer. All in all this was the most amazing, brilliant adventure. They grew in confidence, learned new creative techniques to bring back to the group in London and they were active all week… Above all the most important thing to me is how HAPPY they all were. They stepped away from their often difficult, isolated and mundane lives into a holiday of friends, fun and a lot of laughter!!

“We are so grateful for this funding from The Axis Foundation who have made this holiday possible. Once again, thank you so much” – Caroline Barlow, Manager and Founder

Volunteer Support

Molly Swan, Axis Administrator, used her volunteering day to get creative with Arts for All.

Molly helped out with one of the kid’s clubs. These sessions are relaxed classes and range from painting all the way to 3D modelling.

Molly said “I loved the session! It was so lovely, they do such an amazing job.”

Caroline added: “Having the support of volunteers from Axis Europe makes a massive difference to us. Their enthusiasm and energy is infectious and everyone enjoys spending time with them!”

There’s more about Arts for All here

 

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Two Children supported by Newlife, with portable hoistDisability

Newlife Foundation

July 30, 2018By

Improving quality of life for two children by purchasing specialist equipment

Newlife Foundation is the UK’s largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illnesses. In their care areOlivia and Ryan who, at the time of our donation, were both around eight years old.

Olivia has a genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. So, the Foundation donated £2,899 to Newlife towards a specialist bed that will improve her quality of life and provide relief for both herself and her family.

Ryan’s disability means he has to be hoisted in and out of his wheelchair whenever he needs to use the bathroom, have a wash or go to bed. There is a ceiling track hoist in his home but Ryan’s family were very limited to where they could take him. So, the Axis Foundation donated £1,020 to Newlife towards a portable hoist for Ryan, meaning that they can take him to exciting new places for longer periods.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to the Axis Foundation for their support of Newlife and our family – this will make a big difference. Having a portable hoist that we can put in the boot of the car and take with us wherever we want to go will make a huge difference to Ryan’s life. There are endless possibilities. Ryan has never been able to play in a paddling pool in the garden but this summer he will be able to enjoy this simple pleasure. We will be able to be more adventurous about where we go for days out with Ryan and even consider a family holiday” – Ryan’s Mum, Victoria

 

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Axis Foundation trustees receive Corporate Foundation Prize at Business Charity AwardsNews

Axis Foundation wins Charity Award

July 12, 2018By

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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