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 

READ MORE
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

READ MORE
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

READ MORE
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 

READ MORE
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

READ MORE
disadvantaged

The Magpie Project

December 12, 2024By

Helping women and children living in temporary accommodation in Newham

The Magpie Project supports women and children who are living in temporary or insecure accommodation in Newham and surrounding boroughs.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to make a donation of £5,000 with which The Magpie Project will buy beautiful, high-quality, well-crafted play equipment and creative items to furnish their new play space. Here mums and children play, make friends and build social connections, and access practical support.

Vera O Driscoll in our Community team suggested that The Magpie Project’s CEO and Founder Jane Williams apply to the Foundation.

And our Trustees were delighted to support this application and to help an excellent cause local to our parent company’s HQ in Stratford.

“Such beautiful wooden nursery furniture has been arriving for inside and outside play. We are thrilled. This is the first time we have ordered specific nursery sized equipment as we have only had donated toys previously.

“The wooden table for 1-2 year olds is the perfect height for our minis. I have noticed how popular the new table is and how long minis have been sitting here doing focused tasks like playdough and drawing. The chairs are lovely and really great for minis’ posture and balance.

“The climbing frame and grassy stepping stones have provided the perfect amount of risk and excitement. Many of our minis live in hotels and spend the majority of their day on beds entertained by phones, so this physical play is hugely important.

“The children have loved the big sandpits, and it’s been interesting to support the mums who have not experienced sand play to try it. And the sensory toys have provided a wonderful focus, and the babies loved playing in the dark”- Magpie Play Lead Play Lead, Hannah

 

There’s more about The Magpie Project here http://www.themagpieproject.org

READ MORE
Care

Goalball

December 12, 2024By

Sport Support for partially-sighted or blind children

Goalball is a sport specifically designed for blind and partially-sighted children and young people

Our donation of £5,000 will purchase football equipment for Goalball UK’s schools’ programme which aims to deliver goalball sessions to schools across the UK.

“This grant will allow us to support more children and young people who are blind or partially sighted to participate in sport and physical activity. It is well documented that this will also help with mental health.

”We are very grateful to the Axis Foundation who are supporting our mission for Goalball to empower people to live and play an active part in an inclusive society” –  Mark Winder, Chief Executive Officer at Goalball UK

Children and young people who are blind or partially sighted do not generally receive high quality PE at their schools. And Goalball UK aims to provide transformational opportunities so that they can now experience the challenge and joy of team-based sport.

There’s more about Goalball UK here

READ MORE
Demelza

Marathon Mike

October 21, 2024By

Axis’ Michael MacGibbon runs Royal Parks Half Marathon for Demelza

Mike raised £680 plus £170 gift aid for our charity partner Demelza running the Royal Parks Half Marathon

Axis’ Mike MacGibbon, Senior Contract Manager, completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon in two hours, 23 minutes and 13 seconds raising funds for our charity partner Demelza. Mike told us: “This was the second time I have taken part in this half marathon; the last time was the very first event in 2008!

“The weather was ideal to be running around parts of London, taking in Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and many more. Only five miles of the 13.1 route is on the road, the remaining 8.1 miles snake around Hyde Park.

“I didn’t know just how big the park is and how beautiful it is with The Serpentine river, and the autumn leaves providing colour.

“Representatives from various charities were out along the route to encourage their runners.The Demelza Team was positioned at mile six and nine, so their support was very welcome.

“I would recommend this event to anyone, whether putting your running shoes on for the first time or a seasoned runner, as it is well organised, well supported by the crowds and takes in some famous landmarks of London.”

You can still support Mike by making a donation here.

Demelza’s 20 runners raised nearly £13,000. Well done to everyone who ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Demelza!

READ MORE
Demelza

Machu Picchu Group Challenge raises £136,504 for Demelza

October 15, 2024By

Axis Head of AI joins the Machu Picchu Group Challenge to support Demelza

Raees Gillani, Axis’ Head of AI and Innovation,took on Machu Picchu to raise money for our charity partner Demelza. His incredible adventure saw him take on the challenge of hiking through the Andes to reach the famous lost city of the Incas!

His first two days of arriving in Cusco were tough due to the altitude: after overcoming the difficulties, it became a fun and memorable journey!

Raees said “The views and steepness of the city were just incredible and the level of exposure to nature during the trail itself was very magical.”

Demelza organises fundraising events and opportunities throughout the year, including big group adventures such a taking on Machu Picchu, the Paris Marathon, and the Demelza-to-Demelza bike ride.

As Raees explained, the benefits of a group challenge include the support from the rest of the team: ‘”My fellow fundraisers were incredibly kind and supportive, encouraging everyone to keep going and to push through each day, with mini celebrations at each milestone.”

Describing the whole experience, Raees said “The Inca trail to Machu Picchu is very similar to what I imagine a religious pilgrimage to be like, a difficult journey that will never end but then culminates into something very profound and beautiful.”

Raees and the whole group did an incredible job of fundraising; collectively raising over £136,504 for Demelza!!

READ MORE
An Axis Foundation logo banner in front of the London Golf Club's clubhouse.Demelza

A Swinging Success at the 6th Axis Foundation Charity Golf Day!

July 29, 2024By

 

Scott Minto, Alan Curbishley and John Hayes holding a large cheque

Under a perfectly sunny sky, the lush greens of the London Golf Club saw our annual golf competition: The Alan Curbishley Classic.

Charity patron Alan Curbishley and Axis CEO John Hayes invited familiar faces from our generous subcontractors and sponsors to the competition. Teams played alongside celebrity golfers, which included premier league legends Matt Le Tissier and Teddy Sheringham, and Former England Rugby player, Jason Leonard.

The day kicked off with a warm welcome from the Foundation’s team and the presentation of a cheque worth £137,000 for our charity partner, Demelza. The cheque was awarded to friend of the charity, and former professional footballer, Scott Minto.

With the formalities out of the way, the players hit the tees, showcasing their skills — or lack thereof — with good humour. Among the highlights was the longest drive and nearest the pin competitions which saw some fantastic shots all round. Off the course, the event featured a silent auction with some incredible prizes, adding to the fun and the funds raised. The day concluded with a lunch and party games, hosted by comedian Aaron James.

All in all, the event, our 6th, was a swinging success, raising a significant amount of money for the Axis Foundation and Demelza. The funds will go towards supporting local, impactful projects, making a positive impact on lives across the country.

The day was a perfect blend of fun, philanthropy, and a little bit of friendly competition. A big thanks to all the celebrities, subcontractors, and supporters who made the day such a memorable one:

English rugby union player Jason Leonard (OBE); and British professional boxer John Conteh (MBE) as well as footballers Tony Gale, Mark Dennis, Keith Bertschin, Paul Walsh, Lee Bowyer, Graham Roberts, Ray Houghton, Rob Lee, Alex McCleish (OBE), Steve Brown, Matt Le Tissier, Gladstone Small and Jody Morris as well as Scott Minto who, like us, has supported Demelza for over 20 years!

Our generous guests included: Adeva Home Improvements (nearest the pin sponsor); DMDI, Martin Arnold, , Bauer Asbestos (refreshment buggy and hole in one sponsor), Bauder (hole sponsor), BVL Scaffolding, City Plumbing, DMD Contractors, DM Jones, Emplas, (hole sponsor), Envirocontract, FFT, Gertski Wealth Management, Howells Solutions (refreshment buggy sponsor), JEM, LMP, Marks Building (hole sponsor), Pegasus Siting (hole sponsor), Proactive Fire Solutions (longest drive sponsor), Range Cleaning, Russell Trew (longest drive and nearest the pin sponsor), Symphony Windows (hole sponsor), TW Drainage (nearest to the pin and hole sponsor) and VH Electrical.

An Axis Foundation logo banner in front of the London Golf Club's clubhouse. Comedian Aaron James with microphone. Attendees of the Axis Foundation golf day in group photo.The London Golf Club's clubhouse.

READ MORE