Demelza

Fundraising and Volunteering for Foundation and Demelza

January 19, 2023By

There really are no limits to what our own Axis People will do to help the Axis Foundation and Demelza!

Everyone who works at Axis cherishes the Foundation and Demelza. We’ve been up (and got down) to many activities, Fundraising and using our Volunteering Days to support both causes close to our hearts. Here are just a few examples!

 

Fundraising for Demelza and the Axis Foundation

  • Ben Ibrahim, Divisional Manager, ran the London Marathon. Ben raised £14,600
  • Our Oldbury Team organised a fiendish Treasure Hunt for Halloween. Their devilish enthusiasm raised £45
  • Kellie Turner, Head of  Community Investment, and Oliver Refson, Head of Sustainability and Quality, abseiled down the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Stratford Olympic Park. Kellie and Ollie raised £1,500
  • With Croydon Council, our team in Croydon hosted an 11-a-side charity football match, raising £640

Volunteering to help our Foundation charities

  • Colin Norwood, Projects Supervisor, Joseph Hayes, Business Development Manager, and Kemeisha Brown, Resident Liaison Officer, all volunteered at Arts for All, a creative charity based in London which runs art therapy sessions for people with special needs.
  • Marketing crew Tim Aslett and Kurt Mussell volunteered at The AHOY Centre which helps disadvantaged children in Deptford learn life skills on the water.
  • HR Intern Grace D’Souza volunteered at Hope in Depression,  supporting individuals managing depression and/or anxiety.

Volunteering to support Demelza

At the Warehouse: RLOs Sarah Cooper, Martine Hales, Adila Gredelj, Donna Tryhall Adila Gredelj, Elma Gredelj, Christina Castle and Ben Nitsch, Electrician, sorted donated items at Demelza’s warehouse in Maidstone, Kent for delivery to Demelza’s charity shops.

And In the Garden: Lorrae Mannering, Commercial Manager,  Katie Hayes, Team Leader, Gary Weaver, Multi-trader, Bradley Emms, Groundworker, Michael Kitts, Multitrader Steve Hogben, Electrician Jake Remon, Apprentice Electrician, Emily Nisbett Commercial Analyst,  Stuart Carlow, Plumber, Thomas Darling, Apprentice Plumber, Ryan Kelly, Plumber, Louie Attaway, Plumber, Anthony Veal, Supervisor, Geoffrey Collins, Multitrader, Michael Kitts, Plasterer, Stephanie Hendry, Administrator and Amelia Randall, Scheduler, all spruced up the gardens at Demelza’s Sittingbourne Hospice.

Two Sittingbourne operatives, Nigel Blackshaw and Dave Day, helped Demelza by collecting Christmas trees in Tunbridge Wells, Bromley, Medway and Swale. Demelza will use the trees for topping up bark pathways, mulching underneath trees and hedges and composting in the grounds of the Sittingbourne Hospice.

Main picture: Francesca Fordham, Rositsa Kormeva, Tanya Edwards, Sarah Cooper and Connor Ritson from Projects volunteered to raise funds at Morrisons in Thamesmead for Demelza.

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Disability

Incredible Kids

January 19, 2023By

Providing toys and accessible activities for children with additional needs and disabilities

Bristol-based charity Incredible Kids enables children and young people with additional needs and disabilities to make friends, have fun, and play, increasing their mental wellbeing, and improving their confidence and social skills. Parents set up the charity to support each other and help reduce the social isolation typically felt by 72% of families with a disabled child.*

The Axis Foundation donated £1,000 towards purchasing new ‘bright and engaging’ toys and an accessible activity table for approximately 500 children.

“The funding from the Axis Foundation has already transformed our sessions with a new wheelchair-accessible activity table and a whole host of beautiful new toys and activities for the children at Incredible Kids to enjoy. We are so grateful for the opportunity to add new toys for the families that visit us. Thank you Axis!” – Jennie Prewett, Trustee

More about Incredible Kids

Incredible Kids offers support for the whole family in order to reduce feelings of isolation and increase overall mental wellbeing of disabled children, their siblings, and their parents/carers.

In 2019, 600 families accessed Incredible Kids’ services. Numbers of individuals attending have more than doubled since COVID-19 (from 1000 individual members to 2200).Through their own data collection, in-person interviews, and online surveys Incredible Kids show that after attending their sessions:

  • 83% of parents and carers made friends,
  • 76% of disabled children made friends.
  • 89% of families said they no longer feel isolated.

*The Hidden Isolation Report commissioned by Contact a Family states that “72% of families with a disabled child will experience mental ill health such as anxiety, depression or breakdown due to isolation.”

There’s more about their work here

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Community

Hands of Hope

January 18, 2023By

Equipping children to learn hands-on about the the natural environment

Through a number of schemes and activities including biodiversity and food growing programmes, Hands of Hope tackles food poverty, rural isolation and loneliness in Rother, Hastings and West Kent.

The charity told the Axis Foundation: “Many children who engage in our activities arrive on site ill-equipped. We are seeking funding to purchase 20 sets of children’s waterproofs as well as 10 children’s bee suits.”

And so, our Trustees were delighted to donate £1,000 to purchase both waterproofs and bee suits.

“As many schools prepare for a new addition to the national curriculum with the launch of Natural History GCSE in 2025, Hands of Hope are already leading the way in climate and sustainability education with a wide range of activities that offer children and young people hands-on, practical learning about the natural world around them so they can have a greater connection with the natural environment and in turn, play their part in making sure future generations can enjoy a cleaner, safer, greener world.

“The donation from the Axis Foundation is fundamental to supporting these activities and ensuring that the children are equipped for an enjoyable, safe, and educational experience” –  Mandy Doran, Trustee

More about Hands of Hope

Supporting local communities throughout Rother, Hastings and West Kent, Hands of Hope creates positive social connections within diverse groups whilst tackling mental health, isolation, and food-related issues. Since 2020 the number of people engaged in activities at Hope Farm Community Garden has increased with over 300 adults and children benefiting from onsite activities during 2022 as well as 1000s engaged via their Get Growing project regionally. Hands of Hope are restoring and developing a neglected walled kitchen garden and 22 acres of AONB land, creating “Hope Farm Community Garden”, a Soil Association Accredited community garden containing 2 large market gardens, a small heritage orchard with Apiary, a Gill Woodland, 7 ponds and 2 large wildflower meadows. In June 2022 the charity was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Hands of Hope delivers the following practical projects: Helping Hands Lunch Clubs; Men in Sheds; traditional bricklaying training; Bee in Company biodiversity programme; Growing Buddies community gardening; Living History including  Rural Crafts, environmental heritage, conservation skills and market gardening; and Get Growing delivering fresh, in-season produce to local food banks.

There’s more about their work here 

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disadvantaged

Off the Fence

January 11, 2023By

Saving lives of homeless people

Off The Fence supports homeless, vulnerable and socially excluded people in Brighton and Hove in Sussex.

In 2023 the Axis Foundation donated £7,000 to Off the Fence Trust to purchase 200 Vango Atlas Heavyweight sleeping bags for the rough sleepers who use the services of Antifreeze, the charity’s day centre for the homeless, part of an emergency outreach.

“We are so grateful, as are our clients. Until they are housed, each of our clients uses at least two high quality sleeping bags a year, demand fuelled by wear and tear or theft. £7,000 enables us to purchase 200 military quality sleeping bags that will undoubtedly prevent deaths from exposure, illness and the cold through the Winter months. This is helps us meet a significant proportion of our outdoor budget in this area”  – Roy Stannard, Head of Income-Generation and Comms

We followed this up with a further donation of £4,750 to purchase hygiene materials (including toothpaste, shampoo, razors, shaving foam and cleaning products), hot water bottles (for distribution on the street) and waterproof jackets (for warmth and protection in the cold winter).

“The Axis Foundation is bulwark of compassion in an uncertain world” –  Roy Stannard, Head of Income-Generation and Comms

“Thank you for your compassion and generosity. Lives will be saved” –  Jane Leaver, Office Finance and Individual Giving Co-ordinator

More About Off the Fence

Off The Fence Trust works with vulnerable and socially excluded people in the Brighton and Hove area. Over 700 people use Antifreeze, the charity’s day centre for the homeless. Some users (for example if they own a dog,) have elected to remain rough sleepers. In 2021-22 Antifreeze’s services were used 1,775  times. Whilst many rough sleepers can be accommodated in the City’s hotels and B&Bs, this is only a temporary solution, and the numbers are rising steeply.

Off The Fence Trust tackles social and spiritual poverty, and helps members of the community who are facing crisis situations with little or no support. Their priority is to provide a practical, emotional and psychological safety net through three projects:

  • Antifreeze, a day centre for the homeless – part of an emergency outreach to rough sleepers
  • Schools’ programme for 6-18-year-old children
  • Gateway, a women’s centre supporting women in crisis

There’s more about their work here

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Donations

UK Reads

January 5, 2023By

Our donation helps break illiteracy cycle and gives children a foundation for success.

UK Reads is the World Literacy Foundation’s (WLF) response to the literacy crisis facing children in the UK. Ultimately, the charity aims to put reading in the heart of the home understanding the power of literacy and the impact it can have on life outcomes.

The Axis  Foundation was delighted to donate £3,330 to UK Reads’ Manchester programme specifically helping provide free books to 500 children; 500 literacy resource packs to engage children and parents; two Story Box workshops for ten families plus Story Box resources including books, props and writing material; and their Pen Pals Project which connects children from classrooms across the UK and sub-Saharan Africa via World Literacy Foundation partner schools.

“On behalf of the team at UK Reads, I would like to thank Axis Foundation for their generous contribution to our programme.  The early years of a child’s life can shape their future; the donation will inspire children and their caregivers to prioritise reading, giving them a foundation for success in their education and beyond.  We are incredibly grateful for Axis Foundation’s willingness to champion our cause and for aiding us to continue to break the illiteracy cycle in Manchester’s most disadvantaged families.” – Naomi Nwagboso,Trust and Foundations Manager

More about UK Reads

Before COVID-19, 380,000 children did not own a single book, and 1 in 5 struggled to read or write.  The most recent survey suggested 413,000 UK children now do not own a book. Since launching in November 2020, UK Reads has supported over 37,000 children living in disadvantaged circumstances with free books, bespoke literacy resources, access to a global Pen Pal Project and exciting ‘Story Box’ workshops that engage the whole family.

There’s more here

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Charity Ball

Foundation Charity Ball raises £430,000

December 15, 2022By

Thanks to the generosity of our guests – suppliers, subcontractors and supporters – our 16th Axis Foundation Charity Ball raised £215,000 for our charity partner Demelza and the Axis Foundation.

And this year, our parent company, Axis Europe, match-funded the amount raised at the ball – so a further £430,000 will be available for the small, local and impactful causes the Foundation supports including Demelza. At the heart of our celebrations was the fact that our Foundation has donated £2m in our history of giving. And now we’re planning how to give away the next million! Without the generous support of the following people at our ball, we could not have raised this record-breaking amount!

Here’s the Programme we produced for the night, and find our full photo album here!

A big thank you to our supporters:

 

A to Z Stone Repairs Ltd
A&B Electrical Contractors Ltd
Abdelmalik Hamli
AC Davis Electrical
Adeva Home Improvements Ltd
AkzoNobel
Alandale Group
ASA Scaffolding Ltd
AstonLark
Avanza
Barwin
Baxi
BG Building
BMB Drylining Ltd
Brewers
Britelite Windows Ltd
The Bute Group
Butler & Young Services Ltd
BVL Scaffolding Co Ltd
City Plumbing
CM Electrical Midlands
Crown Paints
David Moss
Decor Repair Services Ltd
Dimetrix Electrical Services
Enigma Security Solutions Ltd
DM Jones
DMD Contracts

Estec Engineering
DMD Installation
DMG Office Ltd
Dynes Motor Group
Example Recruitment Group Ltd
Grant Thornton
Excel Painting Contractors
Exterior Plas
FFT
Five Point Recruitment
Genesis Incorporated
Gertski Wealth Management
Howells
Group 1
Horizon Installation Ltd
Inner City Fabrications
Integral Environmental Solutions Ltd
Kent Supreme Heating
Intex Facades Ltd
J & S Heating
J&D Pallets
LMP Installations
London Drainage Facilities
M&R Building & Landscaping Ltd
Martin Arnold
Masons Scaffolding
Mastacab
Meru Services

Miranda
Moron Services Ltd
Multifleet Vehicle Management
The Pump Practitioners Ltd
Quayside Office Furniture
Peter Varney Associates Ltd
Pioneer Site Services Ltd
Potter Raper
Premier Roofing and Construction
RBC Scaffolding
Resideo Honeywell Home
Rich Demolition
Roofmasters Watford Ltd
Russell Trew
Geoff Shreeves
SLK
Stuart Fenn Property Services Ltd
Travis Perkins
Symphony Windows Ltd
Thermoserv Ltd
TW Drainage
UK Roofing Specialist Ltd Ultimate Services
Ultimate Access Solutions
Universal Roofing Ltd
VH Electrical (UK) Ltd
Vinyl Creations Ltd
Vivbuild Ltd
Vodafone
Warrens Roofing
Your Image

 

To our Entertainers and Auctioneer

  • Charles Hanson – Auctioneer
  • Kevin Reynolds – Manager of Soul Connection, pianist Alex Bennett and singer Roy Hamilton
  • Steve Sutherland – our MC

To those who sponsored the evening

  • Masons Scaffolding who generously sponsored our band Soul Connection
  • London Drainage who generously sponsored our champagne reception
  • Example Recruitment Group Ltd who generously sponsored our pianist Alex Bennett
  • BG Building who generously sponsored our singer Roy Hamilton
  • Five Point Recruitment who generously sponsored our photographer Amit Champaneria

To our Patron Alan Curbishley and all the Trustees of the Axis Foundation

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Community

Beyond The Wall 

December 5, 2022By

Our donation increases accessibility in community gardens

Beyond The Wall is a two-acre walled garden in Suffolk for people with additional needs ranging from physical or learning disabilities to mental health conditions or low self-esteem.

The Axis Foundation donated £5,000 to help Beyond the Wall to enable the charity to grow and develop their kitchen garden, providing accessible paths, raised beds and a communal sun shade area.

“The clients and staff at Beyond The Wall are absolutely thrilled to have received a grant from the Axis Foundation. The grant will help us achieve so much in the coming months, which will benefit all of our current clients as well as future proof the garden for future clients. Without this grant, we would not be able to achieve so many of our plans to make the garden more inclusive and accessible for all of our users” – Rozelle Bettesworth, Centre Manager

The raised beds will enable more clients to access the garden independently and with greater ease. The kitchen garden provides Beyond The Wall’s clients with the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetable to cook with, take home and share with families and friends and also sell at markets to generate further funds for the charity.

There’s more about Beyond the Wall here

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Care

Asthma Relief

December 5, 2022By

Our donation buys nebulisers for people with asthma.

Asthma Relief provides essential Medical Breathing Equipment such as nebulisers to hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, medical centres, hospices and palliative care teams.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to donate £5,700 to Asthma Relief to purchase 30 nebulisers to support their Hospices in London programme.

“Asthma Relief Charity was delighted to receive a grant of £5700.00 from the Axis Foundation. This grant will help support hospice patients in London who need nebuliser treatment as part of their vitally important palliative care. We have already allocated 20 nebulisers, 10 of which were placed at the Royal Trinity Hospice. We were absolutely thrilled to learn that the hospice now has a nebuliser available for every room on the Inpatient Unit!

On behalf of Asthma Relief Charity, the hospices, patients and carers we would like to say A HUGE THANK YOU to the Axis Foundation” – Dave Penman, Founder & Honorary Manager

More About Asthma Relief

The Swindon-based charity responds to urgent requests for nebulisers. Requests can come from anxious parents, patients, doctors, the isolated or the elderly. For all of them – they or a loved one may be struggling to breathe – every moment is precious.

Additionally, they aim to assist anyone whose life is restricted by a breathing condition to be able to go about their day as normally as possible. So, they might enable a child with severe breathing difficulties to go on family or school outings; or supply a machine for an older patient, helping them get out of the home and engage more. They can also support terminally ill patient to be at home to spend their final days with loved ones.

There’s more here here

“Thank you so much for the deliveries – they are hugely appreciated Now, more than ever, they are needed to keep people out of hospital and give them care wherever we can provide it. We will be distributing to care homes and suitable venues and we will make sure they are put to good use” – a Doctor

“Just a line to say a “Big Thank You” for not only sourcing a very much needed nebuliser for me but for getting it to us so quickly! I’ve been using it 4 times a day since Thursday and can already feel a huge relief. Thanks to you I can now breathe easier and deeper without wheezing. No words can ever thank you enough, during this stressful time. You are amazing people. People like myself wouldn’t survive without you. Thank You” – a patient

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Care

Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk

December 1, 2022By

We purchase a vital defibrillator providing independence and confidence for MS Centre users

Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk aims to provide independence to all those with Multiple Sclerosis and all other neurological conditions.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £1,500 will purchase a defibrillator for centre users: most have MS, are vulnerable or at risk. Whilst everyone benefits from the sessions here, purchasing a defibrillator will mean the centre can further fulfil their duty of care by minimising risk and increasing safety for users. Our grant will also provide training for staff in using the defibrillator.

“This Defib will make a huge difference to us, allowing vulnerable centre users feel confident in our care knowing there is a team and equipment available in the event of any emergency. This also makes the team at the centre feel confident that they can deal with possible situations and have the right equipment. We would like to say thank you too the Axis foundation for your support over the years” – Nick Petch, Volunteer Fundraiser

Our donations

This is our second donation to Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk. In 2019 we donated £2,480 to help install a ramp entrance to the front of the centre which is housed in an old air traffic control tower.

More about Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk

The centre offers  appropriate therapies and services including physiotherapy, yoga, Pilates, reflexology and podiatry to 400 users. There’s more about their work here 

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Demelza

Climbing Kilimanjaro for Demelza

November 4, 2022By

Axis’ Walter Shave recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro raising a fantastic £2,500 for Demelza and First Halesworth Scout Group.

The two-week expedition, which was completely self-funded by the team, took just over two weeks to complete and created memories to last a lifetime.

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the African continent’s highest peak at 5895m (19,340ft) and is the highest free-standing mountain above sea level worldwide.

The team started off by climbing up two smaller peaks nearby to acclimatise to the altitudes. And then it was time for the main event! The climb up Mt Kilimanjaro started after additional training in the rainforest.  Every day Wally and his team climbed a total of 1000m which is the equivalent of Mount Snowdon!

On the summit day, they woke up at 1am to reach the top just in time for sunrise. Wally reports: “We noticed that we were struggling a lot to physically move due to the lack of oxygen at that altitude, our average speed was 1.2km per hour! It was hard to believe that our oxygen levels went down to an astonishing 70%. When you are at sea level, if your oxygen levels go down to 92% you need to be rushed to A&E! The last 250m we walked through glaciers to reach the summit which were incredible: planes were flying below us! Once we reached the summit it was a feeling of such achievement and joy surrounded by amazing views and a beautiful sunrise, we will cherish that moment for our lifetime!”

For his scout group, First Halesworth Scout Group, the money raised will help fund an annual scout trip to Scotland or Switzerland for less fortunate members. For Demelza, the money will help to ensure every child and young person who has a serious or terminal condition receives the care and attention they need to live the most fulfilling life they can.

“Young people are our future! If I can make a small but meaningful contribution to both these fantastic organisations by giving up some of my time and sweat, then it’s a win win all round.”

Read more about our precious partnership with Demelza here.

And there’s more about how we helped First Halesworth Scouts here

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