Demelza

We’ve donated £1m to Demelza!!

December 17, 2025By

Axis Foundation celebrates donating £1m to Demelza in 2025

This year, the Axis Foundation marks a milestone: we have donated a total of £1m to Demelza, our charity partner.

That we have achieved this amazing figure in our 16-year history of giving is – in huge part – a tribute to the generosity of our supporters who have donated so generously, and our volunteers to have given their time to raise funds for our charity partner.

These words come direct from Demelza to you!

“This year, Demelza is proud to be supporting over 2,700 children and family members. Each day, we strive to reach more children living with serious or life-limiting conditions, while continuing to strengthen the care and support we already provide to families who rely on us.

“Everything we do is made possible by the kindness and commitment of our supporters. As a charity, we exist because of you – your generosity fuels every moment of care, every family visit, and every smile we help create, every bit of sunshine we bring into a child’s life.

“During our partnership with the Axis Foundation, this remarkable charity has donated over a phenomenal £1 million to us!

“As more children are living longer with increasingly complex medical needs, the demand for our services continues to grow. With your help, we’re determined to be there for every extraordinary child and family who needs our extraordinary care – today, tomorrow, and into the future.

“From all of us at Demelza, a heartfelt thank you to the Axis Foundation. Your belief in our work means more than words can say. Your unwavering passion, your creativity, and compassion have never failed to inspire us. The energy you bring to every fundraising effort and the dedication you show year after year truly make a difference. No act of support is ever too small – each one helps transform lives” – Lavinia Jarrett, Chief Executive Officer

 

“We are truly honoured and deeply grateful for the incredible support the Axis Foundation has shown us over the years. Reaching the milestone of raising and donating over £1 million is a remarkable achievement.

“Your commitment has improved the lives of countless children and their families across Kent and south east London, and we’re so proud to have you as part of our journey” – Louise Earl, Corporate Accounts Partnership Manager

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Demelza

Makeovers and Marathons

December 17, 2025By

Our Volunteers Support Demelza

These are just a few examples of how Axis employees support our charity partner Demelza!

Axis volunteers conducted a garden makeover at Demelza’s hospice in Sittingbourne, Kent. They helped to tidy up the gardens by weeding and clearing paths, and set up Christmas trees, a gingerbread house archway and an inflatable Christmas dinosaur.

Our Kate Thomson (Social Impact Coordinator) ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise funds for Demelza and also hosted a Cake Sale.

Axis Volunteers restored the memorial garden at Demelza Hospice in Sittingbourne ahead of the charity’s annual Memorial Weekend – a meaningful event for bereaved families.

And some of our Axis people bravely took part in the 26.2-mile challenge of the 2025 London Marathon, raising £4,500 for Demelza.

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Donations

Mayfield School

December 16, 2025By

Sensory stimulation for children with multiple learning difficulties

Mayfield School is a large Special Needs School in Torbay. Of their 180 pupils, many have Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).

The Axis Foundation was delighted to approve an application for support with a donation of £11,091 to help the Friends of Mayfield School buy media projectors which support sensory stimulation and learning.

“We are grateful to the Axis Foundation for awarding a grant to Mayfield School. Your donation will be used to purchase a set of media projectors for the Immersive (sensory) room.

“The projectors will create a wrap-around effect when used alongside edge blending software and Showmagic software allows different themes and environments to be used (both software is included). Wrap around projections allow children to be ‘in’ the ocean when learning about the ocean, for example.

“Thanks to your support we are closer to launching a new and immersive sensory environment, harnessing the power of technology to support sensory stimulation and learning, especially for our children with profound and multiple learning difficulties” – Adam Tapp, Treasurer

The new sensory rooms will support up to 460 children over their lifetime, offering a calming, accessible space for pupils, families and community groups. They promote cognitive and language development, emotional regulation, reduced anxiety, social interaction and creativity. By providing a safe, soothing environment, the rooms help children build resilience, confidence and essential communication skills.

There’s more about Mayfield School here

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Donations

Build Up Foundation

December 16, 2025By

Helping young people gain practical skills, confidence and routes into employment

Build Up Foundation works across deprived London neighbourhoods, delivering youth-led construction projects which help young people gain practical skills, confidence and routes into employment meanwhile transforming neglected spaces.

The Axis Foundation has awarded £7,400 to Build Up to contribute to essential construction materials needed to deliver a build project in Hackney, enabling young people to design and construct a high-quality community space alongside professional trades and construction mentors.

The donation will directly support around 30 young people, with over 1,000 local young people benefiting each year from a permanent, inclusive community space.

“This is amazing news and we are incredibly grateful to the Axis Foundation for this support. The team is thrilled that the Hackney Marshes project can go ahead, particularly because the young people involved are so committed and inspiring. This flexible funding shows real belief in our work and in the potential of young people to lead positive change in their communities. It will make a lasting difference to both the participants and the space they are helping to create” – Huan Rimington, Founder and Director

For more information visit Build Up’s website here

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Care

Bromley Brighter Beginnings

December 16, 2025By

Sweeter, safer sleep for children – a bed for every child

Bromley Brighter Beginnings supports families across the London Borough of Bromley, providing essential items to reduce child poverty and ensure children have a safe, dignified start in life.

The Axis Foundation has donated £15,000 to Bromley Brighter Beginnings for its Bed For Every Child Project. The donation will fund new beds, mattresses and essential bedding, including pillows, duvets and mattress protectors, all delivered and professionally assembled in family homes across Bromley.

The funding will provide safe beds for 30 children, improving sleep, wellbeing and educational outcomes, while positively benefiting entire families across the borough.

“Thank you ever so much for this incredible support. We were absolutely delighted to receive the news, and Bromley Brighter Beginnings is hugely grateful to the Axis Foundation for this level of funding. It will have a profound impact on our Bed For Every Child project and the families we support. This funding means children will have a safe, comfortable place to sleep, restoring dignity, improving wellbeing and giving families much-needed peace of mind” – Rhian Arrenberg, Grants and Fundraising Lead

For more information, visit Bromley Brighter Beginnings’ website here

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disadvantaged

Extra Mile

December 16, 2025By

Safe sleep and vital baby transport

Extra Mile is a volunteer-led charity based in Hampton, supporting vulnerable families across Richmond, Hounslow and neighbouring boroughs with essential baby and child equipment.

The Axis Foundation has donated £4,000 to Extra Mile to purchase 15 cots with mattresses, 15 prams and 10 double buggies to provide safe sleeping spaces and vital transport equipment, enabling families to care for young children with dignity, safety and independence. Our donation will directly benefit 50 children, reducing family stress, improving wellbeing and helping children get a safer, healthier start in life.

“Thank you so much. This support has come at the perfect time as we celebrate 10 years of The Extra Mile. It will mean so much to many struggling families, and we are incredibly grateful. This funding will make a real and immediate difference to parents who simply cannot afford these essential items” – Liz Windaybank, Volunteer

“Being able to use The Extra Mile for the families we support is often a real lifeline. Knowing help is available brings huge relief. One family who had fled domestic abuse said, ‘It’s been like Christmas has come early for us’” –  Family Centre Outreach Worker

“We cannot thank The Extra Mile enough. Families supplied with cots and pushchairs feel enormous relief. Pushchairs also help reduce isolation. The Extra Mile responds quickly and with compassion. One mother told us, ‘I don’t have words to thank you'” – Family Centre and Home-Start

For more information, visit Extra Mile website here

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Donations

Urban Forest Tribe (UFT)

September 23, 2025By

Making nature accessible for SEND children

Urban Forest Tribe (UFT)’s mission is to make outdoor learning and nature connection accessible to all, regardless of background or ability – nurturing individuals and strengthening families and communities.
Firmly rooted in Forest School philosophy, and based in north London, they have a particular focus on those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support their application with a donation of £3,500 to meet the costs of the sensory and interactive features for their scheme at Bridge School. This scheme will rewild and enhance a green space here, introducing a wide range of accessible, features specifically designed for SEND children.
“We’re over the moon to hear that we’ve been awarded a grant of £3,500 to support the sensory features at The Bridge School site. This funding will make a real difference in helping us create a more inclusive and nurturing outdoor space for the children we work with” – Paula Harvey Founder and Executive Director
There is more about Urban Forest Tribe here
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two children with school bellDisability

Christ Church CofE Primary School, Greenwich

September 23, 2025By

Funding an accessible toilet for SEND children

Christ Church CofE Primary School (Parents and Friends Association) applied to the Axis Foundation for help converting an outdated toilet block into a much-needed sensory room and wheelchair-accessible toilet.

The school (which is located in Greenwich, south east London) supports 210 pupils – 62 of whom are on the SEND Register, including 11 children with EHCPs. As there is no dedicated quiet or sensory space currently on site, the new facilities will provide vital support for children with additional needs.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to help the school fit out the specialist bathroom with a donation of £4,000.

“Wow — thank you so much! We are absolutely thrilled to have your support. The Axis Foundation’s generous donation towards our sensory room and accessible toilet is about so much more than bricks and mortar — it’s a promise to our pupils that their needs truly matter. This funding means that every child at Christ Church will have access to a safe, inclusive space to learn, regulate, and thrive — a space that will champion inclusivity for generations to come” – Laura Simpson, Deputy Head and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator

There’s more about the Christ Church CofE Primary School here

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Disability

Woodlarks Camp Site Trust

July 2, 2025By

Disability is no barrier to adventure

Woodlarks Camp Site Trust’s focus on accessibility ensures that disability need not be a barrier to adventure. Anyone, whatever their physical or cognitive ability, can enjoy camping and outdoor activities in their12-acre woodland setting.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support their application and donated £4,965 so they can purchase another accessible tent.

The tent allows plenty of room for users to have profiling beds (if required), hoist access and plenty of storage space for the essential equipment that comes with so many of their more complex campers. Each tent can accommodate six to eight people at a time, so many more people with disability will benefit from the joys of accessible camping.

That is brilliant news, THANK YOU! You have no idea how grateful we are to you for this grant, it will make an enormous difference to our users” – Nick Richards, Warden

More about Woodlarks

Over the last 25 years, Woodlarks volunteers have developed a facility that will meet the needs and risk assessments of any organisation that co-ordinates holidays or short breaks for people with disabilities. Examples of their adjustments include:

  • hoists at the swimming pool and in changing rooms
  • height-adjustable changing tables and private showers in pool changing rooms
  • accessible showers and toilets
  • height-adjustable tilting bath and nine profiling beds, all accessible by ceiling hoists
  • new accessible food prep and cook house area
  • wheelchair-accessible tarmacked paths
  • tents on wheelchair-accessible timber tent bases

More about their work here

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Disability

New Accessible Garden for Connor

July 2, 2025By

With our help, Connor can now access and enjoy his garden in his wheelchair

Michaela Palmer works for Axis as our Fleet Administrator. Her son Connor has cerebral palsy and could not access his garden in his wheelchair as it was not flat enough.

She applied to the Foundation after our Ears and Eyes campaign invited employees to put forward suggestions/applications for the Trustees’ consideration. And our Trustees were delighted to fund new paving in the garden. Axis’subcontractor M&R conducted the works, laying new paving and making the garden accessible to Connor.

Michaela said:“You have no idea how much difference this has made to my son. I honestly cannot thank you enough. No words can explain the difference this has already made to Connor!!! This has completely lifted his mindset so, so much. I am really hoping this is the start of his recovery.

“Being able to hang his laundered clothes on the washing line is a huge difference for him. Something he could not access before. He is already using the garden every day: he takes his morning coffee outside and sits in the sun with the dog (Dutch). They are both loving the garden. And it has already made a significant change to Connor’s mindset and mental health.

“The finished garden enables Connor to be more independent, which is what he has always wanted. He hates having to rely on someone to help him. But it also means it will free up some of my time as I won’t have to go and do the jobs that he could not manage to do.

“We have now painted the fences, added some solar lights, a BBQ, garden furniture and a sail shade for Dutch.

“As I said before I cannot put into words how extremely grateful, we both are to the Axis Foundation. When I got the email to say my application had been accepted, I cried!!!! It just was a huge weight lifted!”

Connor told us: “I’m so grateful to be able to use my garden now, it’s made such a difference having a flat surface.It was really depressing not being able to go out there and now I can use it and enjoy the sun when it shines. My dog Dutch used to dig holes, and it was hard to pick up his waste as I couldn’t reach with my wheelchair so it got overwhelming to a point where I just had to leave it there. Now I can pick it up so much easier. And when it rains his paws don’t get muddy: in the past I had to wipe his paws before he came back into the house after it had rained as they were full of mud.

“It’s already made a huge difference to my lifestyle and I can enjoy sitting out here and I can even put my laundry up to dry without anyone’s help. My wheelchair can get to every spot in the garden now so easily so I’m excited for summer time to enjoy it fully.

“The Axis and M&R  team were great, they were so professional with everything and it was nice to have them here.”

Mick Hayes, Axis Foundation Trustee said: “When we received Michaela’s application through our Ears and Eyes campaign, we were very moved by Connor’s plight and were delighted to assist with funding to creating a pathway in his garden so that he can get out and enjoy life outside with his dog Dutch. As you can see, the impact on Connor’s life is profound and immediate – a truly great example of how our Foundation can change a life.”

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