Warehouse full of Christmas gifts for children living in povertydisadvantaged

Ambition Aspire Achieve: Newham Christmas Toy Appeal

Helping local children and families living in poverty at Christmas

We have made two donations to Ambition Aspire Achieve‘s (AAA) Newham Christmas Toy Appeal.  In both 2020 and 2023 we supported AAA with donations of £1,000.

Our two donations to AAA’s Newham Christmas Toy Appeal bought gifts to help fill the Christmas stockings of 3,000 children living in poverty in Newham as well as hampers for 100 families.

Why we support Ambition Aspire Achieve

Axis’ HQ is in Stratford, east London, in the borough of Newham. Ambition Aspire Achieve is a Newham-based charity supporting disadvantaged, vulnerable and at-risk local children and families all year round.

The Axis Foundation supports small, local and impactful causes. So, in response a direct appeal from AAA to John Hayes (CEO, Founder and Trustee of the Axis Foundation) the Axis Foundation made a Christmas donation to AAA.

2023

“That’s really great news – the donation will go directly towards purchasing much-needed toys for the appeal this year” – Johny Boux, Chief Executive

2020

2020 was a difficult and challenging year for everyone because of COVID-19. And, for those living in poverty, based in temporary accommodation, who may have behavioural difficulties and be the victims of abuse, Christmas might have been just another miserable day. For some children there would be no family lunch round the table with crackers. No gifts. Not even a stocking.

Kevin Jenkins, OBE, Co-Ordinator of the Newham Christmas Toy Appeal, said: “Thank you for making this difference for our area’s most disadvantaged, vulnerable and at-risk children, especially in this the most difficult and challenging of all years.

“As all the available evidence confirms, it is the poorest families already in need who have suffered the most, and many other families, through no fault of their own, have been pushed into poverty as a result of the hardship and loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The appeal provided: 2,891 children with a Christmas stocking for Christmas morning – helping more children than ever before; 100 families (approx. 300 children) with a seasonal food hamper. With my sincere thanks, 2,891 times over.”

What the families said

“I need a card that gives you a big hug to show my gratitude for the lovely presents for the children. I have not worked for a while and worried as I don’t have money to spend on Christmas gifts and then the surprise made a huge difference!” – Parent with a disabled child

“I am so grateful to you and your team for all these gifts and the way you have supported my family. I am not working and not getting any benefits. We are spending my savings from my business before I became unwell. I would not have been able to buy anything for my girls but because of you, our Christmas is a happy one” – Parent

“I have struggled with my mental health this year and to be honest I don’t think I have thought about Christmas or presents. To receive this I am very grateful and it has made me very emotional that people are still looking out for each other. It has uplifted me” – Parent

“A massive thank you for our delivery of food and toys today. The children were so so happy and it cheered us all up after a hard week. My eldest said he was close to tears at how nice it was that someone would do that for us. Thank you so much to you and your team and anyone who donated. It really has helped make our Christmas. I hadn’t been able to get dessert or gravy for our Christmas Dinner because we have been isolating and I’m so pleased that we can now have some of the lovely things in the hamper” –  Grateful Parent

More about AAA here

 

group of young children reading booksCommunity

Wimbledon Bookfest

Three little children planting lettucesDonations

The Visionaries 

a mother and father with babydisadvantaged

Little Stars

Woman reading to two infants from a bookCare

Hug-a-Bug World (HBW)

Disability

Red Eagle Foundation

Care

Mollie’s story

Care

Youth Talk

Disability

Incredible Kids

Community

Hands of Hope

Donations

UK Reads

Sea Change little children playing on check rugCare

Sea Change Trust

Care

Little Heroes

Keeping kids safe with OK OKCare

OK Our Kids

3 girls from Amateur Boxing Club, Swale Gloves pose in fight stanceDonations

Swale Gloves

Donations

Halas Hawks

Young child having swimming lessons with Level WaterDisability

Level Water

young boy on dry ski slope TAG adaptive snow sportsDisability

TAG

Child in grey Hypo Hounds t-shirt and black dogCare

Hypo Hounds

Little boy in goggles using assistive technology to communicateDisability

 Lifelites

Gift boxes for seriously ill children in hospitalCare

Tyler’s Trust

helping children with autism, child with headphones in front of screenDisability

Time4Autism

Young disadvantaged children sailingCare

The Ahoy Centre

Mum holding baby, CASPA parents of children with autismCare

CASPA

Students sitting at tables studying to become Mental Health AmbassadorsCommunity

Student Life

Axis CEO John Hayes handing over mini bus to Maypole charityDisability

The Maypole Project

Case of opthalmic equipment Fight against BlindnessCare

Fight Against Blindness

Woman and child reading togetherDonations

Literacy Pirates

black pony standing in treesDisability

Barrow Farm

young person holding poster standing astride red bike, 10 year logoCare

Cyclists Fighting Cancer

Axis foundation helps to fund specialist bathroom to young girlCare

Bathroom for Isabella

Care

HOPE

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

Arden Forest FC

A lady feeds a sheep at Stepney City FarmDonations

Stepney City Farm

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

Kids Care

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

CHAT

Children show Christmas cards they made with charity Accuro.Community

Accuro

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

Axis Arctic Challenge

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

Blooming Blossoms

Youths wearing For Jimmy T-shirts - a charity who safer spaces and communities in South East London.Community

For Jimmy

Child touches interactive wall in sensory room at Mapledown SchoolDonations

Mapledown School

Children enjoy physiotherapy swimming lesson at Waterwings swimming club.Donations

Waterwings

Stepney Scouts and scout leaders kayak down river.Donations

Stepney Scouts

Smiling residents of Bentilee VolunteersCommunity

Bentilee Volunteers

Disabled adults and children enjoy festival experience with help from Festival SpiritDisability

Festival Spirit

Man holding baby at Sparks Medical Research CharityCare

Sparks

Two girls at craft sessions at Newhaven YFCDonations

Newhaven YFC

Disabled pupils of Lonsdale School sit round a fire during camping trip.Disability

Lonsdale School

Child sitting in a mobility chair that has been donated to him.Disability

Vinnie James

Two people playing Table Tennis at Pimlico Foundation youth projectDonations

Pimlico Foundation

Braille at Clearvision for visually impaired childrenDonations

ClearVision Project

Child and teacher on Heltwate School trip to NorfolkDonations

Heltwate School

Wide Horizons logoDonations

Wide Horizons

Children play dress up in Victorian clothes at the Ragged School in London.Donations

Ragged School Museum

Shooting Star nurse on home visits to families caring for a life-limited childCare

Shooting Star Chase

Man teaching life skills to disadvantaged children at Sport 4 LifeDonations

Sport 4 Life

Children playing with carers from the London Centre for Children with Cerebral PalsyDonations

LCCCP

Two silver Bears on a ribbon at Surrey SandsCare

Surrey Sands

Child learning horse riding at the Ebony Horse ClubDonations

Ebony Horse Club

Children with austism and learning disabilities at Tae Kwando club at Woodside SchoolDonations

Woodside School

Volunteers help to build sensory garden for Corbets Tey SchoolDonations

Corbets Tey School