Two girls at craft sessions at Newhaven YFCDonations

Newhaven YFC

July 12, 2017By

Craft sessions encourage creativity in young people

The Axis Foundation donated £550 to Newhaven YFC, a youth club in East Sussex that provides children with a safe place to socialise and have fun. The donation funded essential craft materials for their weekly craft sessions which are incredibly popular with the children that attend.

“We are very reliant on grants such as this for extras for the young people so that we can keep them engaged and learning in a fun way. We are very grateful to the Axis Foundation for your generosity  – Sara Alexander, Youth Worker

More About Newhaven YFC

Newhaven YFC aims to engage children in meaningful activities and provide them with a place where they can be creative and interact with their peers. In order to keep the club accessible for all, they only ask for a small contribution of 50p to attend sessions. Newhaven YFC believes that it is important for young people to have access to enriching activities at a low cost as it encourages positive social interaction and allows them to discover new hobbies.

Currently, around 40 young people attend the weekly activities, which range from sports, cooking, crafts sessions and games. These activities give children something fun to look forward to while keeping them out of trouble. Furthermore, children are encouraged to communicate with staff about how they’re feeling and discuss issues that may be bothering them.

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

Lonsdale School

June 21, 2017By

Special wheelchair help physically and neurologically impaired children achieve Duke of Edinburgh Award

Our award of £2,805 to Lonsdale School funded a new RGK All Terrain wheelchair which enabled 20 physically and neurologically impaired children pupils to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Expedition award.

The pupils, with the aid of the all-terrain wheelchair, were able to complete the award, walking, camping and enjoying the exercise and the great outdoors. Without the wheelchair, none of this would have been possible.

And, whilst it was invaluable in helping pupils complete their incredible adventure, the new specialist wheelchair will have long-term benefits for future pupils at the school too.

“The Duke of Edinburgh Expedition created lasting memories and for that we’re incredibly grateful. The equipment provided by the Axis Foundation will also benefit all our current and future students. It will give them the opportunity to be involved in a rewarding activity that they may otherwise not have been able to complete. We also took the All Terrain Wheelchair on our recent trip to Andorra for a week’s SitSki. The wheelchair was absolutely perfect for the conditions we were faced with and the donation was very gratefully received. Thank you” –  Sheena Harley, LSA 

More  About Lonsdale School

Lonsdale School caters for physically and neurologically impaired children It is based in Hertfordshire with around 90 pupils aged between 3 and 18 years. Here their motto is ‘Learning for Life” and they believe that pupils should enjoy being inside and outside of school: they participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme expedition to help pupils develop new skills outside the classroom.

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Child cared for at Demelza sat with parents.News

Inaugural Golf Day – £54,000 to Demelza

May 13, 2017By

We donate £54,000 – the equivalent of 2,680 hours of nursing care – to Demelza – at our inaugural celebrity charity golf day

At the first Axis Foundation Celebrity Charity Golf Day in June 2017, the Axis Foundation presented a cheque for £54,000 to Demelza’s Adopt a Nurse scheme. The sum is the equivalent of 2,680 hours of nursing care.

Receiving the cheque, Demelza CEO Ryan Campbell said: “Everyone who works for or with Axis has gone above and beyond to support our families, raising vital funds so that we can continue to help those families when they need us the most. You have showed unbelievable spirit and determination, completing incredibly difficult challenges and raising a truly outstanding amount of money for Demelza’s Adopt a Nurse programme.”

Demelza Parent Mette explained: “As well as memory-making and emotional support Demelza also gave practical help – from the community nursing team making phone calls and liaising with various agencies to staff at the hospice tackling paperwork. We didn’t need to worry about the cooking, cleaning, washing – we could just focus on Thomas.”

Alan Curbishley, Foundation patron and tv sports pundit, has kindly lent his name to the golf day: the Alan Curbishley Classic. Our first golf day was so popular it is scheduled to become an annual favourite in everyone’s sporting calendar! And thanks to our generous guests and supporters, on the day, we raised £18,000 to help Demelza and other small, local and impactful causes via the Axis Foundation.

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

Vinnie James

March 15, 2017By

Mobility and independence for toddler with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

Two-year-old Vinnie James was diagnosed with type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) at eight weeks old. SMA is a genetic disease, causing deterioration in nerve cells connecting the brain and spinal cord to the muscles. Type 1 is the most severe.

Vinnie’s family had been campaigning to raise money for a Permobil Koala Power chair to provide him with some mobility and independence. As his mother Kelly told us: “He currently has to stay where we put him. He’s a toddler. He should be running around causing mayhem but he’s not able to.”

The Axis Foundation initially agreed to donate £1,500 to cover the cost of the deposit for the chair. However – touched and impressed by further successful fundraising efforts by the family – the Foundation donated the final £6,000 needed to buy the chair. The family was also supported by chairman of local charity Heart of Darts Ian Waller.

“Without the help of the Axis Foundation and the donation they’ve made to the chair, we are unsure whether we would have got it. Moving forward, the chair will grow with Vinnie and ensure his mobility and independence – you have changed all of our lives” – Kelly, Vinny’s mother

The story continues…

Axis Operative Dan Ward (who was working near to Vinnie’s home on a routine job) noticed how Kelly and the family struggled to manoeuvre Vinnie’s previous chair through the front door of their property. So, he volunteered to fit and install a special door which was provided by supply chain partner Travis Perkins.

“The team at Axis saw what a struggle it was on a day to basis to get Vinnie in and out of our property. They came and fitted a specialist door that opens outwards making our life so much easier. This act of kindness is greatly appreciated by our family” – Kelly, Vinny’s mother

And, in 2020, the Axis Foundation donated a further £4,400 to fund a year’s physiotherapy with a Neuromuscular Physiotherapist for Vinnie.

“The money from The Axis foundation has ensured that Vinnie has access to the best possible physiotherapy. It means that we can continue working hard on making our little boy stronger and he can keep smashing SMA. Thank you” – Luke and Kelly James

 

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Two people playing Table Tennis at Pimlico Foundation youth projectDonations

Pimlico Foundation

March 12, 2017By

Youth project activities reduce anti-social behaviour

The Pimlico Foundation runs after school clubs, one-on-one mentoring, detached youth work, sports and creative activities, all of which are designed to prevent anti-social behaviour and encourage community spirit.

The Axis Foundation donated £700 to the youth project to help them purchase equipment including board games and a table tennis set. This donation means that there is a wider range of activities available at the weekly youth club. These sessions provide the young people who attend with a safe and relaxed space where they can interact with each other and engage with informal learning which serves to enhance their social and personal development.

“We’d like to thank the Axis Foundation for their gift of a donation. It has enabled us to purchase a table tennis set and board games and these are perfect ways to encourage the young people who visit us to interact with each other. The donation has added to our youth work and we appreciate the support as it’s something that the children are really benefiting from” – Mark Liburd, Senior Youth Worker

More About The Pimlico Foundation

The Pimlico Foundation works with young people to create a hub which provides physical, emotional and spiritual support, helping them to reach their full potential. The charity holds a weekly ‘hot chocolate outreach’ which reaches around 100 people. Attendees receive free hot chocolate and get the chance to speak to the youth workers from the charity about local events and help to shape the community.

The youth project operates under the youth movement Outbreak, which aims to create a cohesive community and help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds living in Pimlico

 

 

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Co-ordinator of Camberwell After School Project receiving cheque.Donations

Camberwell After School Project

February 1, 2017By

Children can socialise in safe after-school club

Camberwell After School club  enables children to socialise with each other in a constructive and enriching environment and we are happy that our support will be used to bring smiles to local children’s faces. Our donation of £1,000 bought gifts, toys and resources for children within the Camberwell community to enjoy.

“The donation has come as a blessing and it’s a great Christmas present for the children and we’re very grateful” – Carmen Lindsay MBE, Chief Executive Officer

“This after school club is vital for parents as it gives them peace of mind and practical support in terms of caring for their children whilst juggling their career or studies. They don’t receive much support though, so I’m really happy that the Foundation is helping them” –  Leah Kimani, parent

“We liked the cause and recognise the importance of knowing that your children are cared for whilst balancing working and family life. Services such as the Camberwell After School Project are a valuable asset to our community and it is important that we do everything that we can to support them ” – Foundation Trustee, Sandie Ryan

 

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A child plays in the sensory soft room at Tower Hamlets Opportunity Group.Donations

Tower Hamlets Opportunity Group

December 12, 2016By

Safe sensory soft room for playgroup children

The Tower Hamlets Opportunity Group is a playgroup which provides a safe environment for all children (under 5) living in the borough supporting them on their journey into school.

51% of the children who attend the playgroup have a disability or additional needs, so it’s important that parents feel confident their children are involved in a safe, fully inclusive, pre-school, educational environment. In addition, Tower Hamlets Opportunity Group, a registered charity, aims to reduce isolation by helping people become part of the community.

In 2016 we made a donation of  £9,097. With this grant the Group created a sensory soft room including soft cushioning, steps, a slide, a mirror a dome, a projector and a twinkle hut for the children. Here the Tower Hamlets children – particularly those with disabilities – can learn and develop as they engage with their peers in a safe with a safe, stimulating and enriching environment.

“The sensory soft room was a simple design but it ticks all the boxes for under 5s development. It gives our little ones the scope to be confident and supports their imagination and physical development. Thank you for providing us with such a useful resource. Our children have really benefited from using the sensory room. It is a bright, soft and atmospheric room that everyone loves to use” – Lorraine Dooley MBE, Project Co-ordinator

 “The children at the setting are making great use of the sensory soft room that the Axis Foundation awarded us funding for. It has been such a great resource. The play practitioners and children are delighted”- Alan Dooley, Capacity Building Officer

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Braille at Clearvision for visually impaired childrenDonations

ClearVision Project

October 20, 2016By

Support for visually impaired adults and children

Can you imagine what it would feel like if the world of books was closed to you because you were visually impaired? Books educate and inspire and bring people together. Whether it’s at bedtime, in the classroom or at a book club, reading plays an important part in our lives and encourages sharing – pages, opinions and ideas. Indeed, as Roald Dahl said: “If you are going to get anywhere in life you have to read a lot of books.”

The ClearVision Project is a charity that helps those with visual impairment They encourage the love of reading, increase the availability of books in accessible formats and promote the use of braille, Moon and tactile illustrations. Their specially-created books put print, braille and Moon (an easier version of braille) together on the page with pictures so that people with a visual impairment and sighted people can read together. Reaching all ages across the UK, their work is impressive and far-reaching.

The Axis Foundation’s grant of £4,000 to the ClearVision Project funded 100 dual print and Braille newly-fluent books including popular children’s classics The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl, Lizzie Zipmouth by Jacqueline Wilson, The Big Red Balloon by the charity’s patron, former children’s Laureate Anne Fine and The Hodgeheg by Dick King-Smith.

“We were delighted to receive your donation and would like to thank the Axis Foundation very much. With your help we can continue to meet the needs of our borrowers and bring them the joys of reading aloud and sharing books and stories.

“The books in contracted braille funded by the Axis Foundation are going strong and being very much enjoyed. The use they’re getting just goes to show how very much needed they are, and what a gap the funding has helped to fill.The results of our works are proven, opening the world of books up to those with a visual impairment, stimulating, educating and helping them progress and develop.

“Thank you very much for your help: the support of generous organisations like yourself is vital to our survival and ability to best meet the needs of our users.” Alexandra Britton, Director

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Children see Santa at West Durrington Phoenix GroupCommunity

West Durrington Phoenix Group

July 8, 2016By

Helping local support group with Christmas donation

Based in Durrington, Worthing, the Phoenix Group is a support hub for the local community. Across a number of years, the local support group has opened its doors to a number of different groups to further support the community.

The Axis Foundation has made a Christmas donation of £5,000 to the group to fund their annual Christmas lunch. 194 children were present at the event and 29 adults came to support some of them. The group supports children who come from families experiencing financial and emotional strain. All of the children were identified through local schools, housing associations and family centres. Before we awarded the donation, the group were organising the party on limited funds which meant there would be no disco, face painter and no entertainer for the children to enjoy. This donation allowed them to provide a party that was much more fun and included special presents for every child.

The children were treated to a delicious Christmas Dinner and enjoyed entertainment from a magician and a balloon artist. In addition, the Axis Foundation’s donation provided a photo booth, where children (and adults) dressed in silly costumes and captured special memories.

“I was over the moon when I was told we were going to be given the money, you can’t imagine the difference it has made. My objective for this party was to make lasting positive memories for our family and this money has allows us to do that. Thank you,” Linda Lewis, Group Representative.

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Demelza

Top DJ Dave Berry accepts second cheque for Demelza 2016

July 7, 2016By

Capital Radio DJ Dave Berry accepted a cheque for £75,000 from Peter Varney, Chairman of the Axis Foundation, on behalf of Demelza Children’s Hospice at the hospices premises in January 2016.

Demelza is Axis’ charity partner; both the parent company Axis, and the Axis Foundation are long-term and loyal supporters of the hospice.

Peter Varney thanked the Capital DJ saying: “It is always a very moving experience to visit the Demelza Children’s Hospice and you cannot fail to be humbled by the fantastic and caring work they do. Axis people have played a huge role in organising fundraising activities to support Demelza and deserve enormous credit for this achievement.”

This is the second time Dave Berry, Demelza’s patron has accepted a Foundation cheque from us. We are delighted to have such capital support!

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