Donations

Make Them Smile

July 25, 2024By

Specialist equipment for SEN school

Make Them Smile supports children who have a wide range illnesses, some terminal, as well as those who are deaf, blind or underprivileged/ poverty-stricken.

The Axis Foundation donated £4,259 to help Make Them Smile purchase specialist equipment for Priory School, an SEN school for boys and girls with severe learning difficulties and autism.

“Thank you for informing me that the Axis Foundation has awarded Make Them Smile a significant grant for five rocking chairs, sensory equipment, gardening tools, and 10 IPads for Priory School in Upper Norwood. The school was absolutely delighted to hear this.

“Having personally visited Priory and several other SEN schools we’ve assisted, I know firsthand how they teach, and the impact these items will have on the school and its children.

“Once again a great big thank you to all at The Axis Foundation from Priory School, their teachers, 139 pupils, and all at Make Them Smile” –  Robert Adams, Make Them Smile’s Grant Officer

The Foundation’s donation purchased:

  • 5 Zuma BraceRock chairs (which help children to stay alert and pay attention)
  • Sensory equipment (to help children with their visual, auditory, and tactile processing, as well as fine and gross motor skills)
  • Gardening implements (so more pupils can enjoy the school’s outside gardening area)
  • Ipads which be used by the school’s speech and language therapists.

“We are delighted, especially about having the Ipads now, as we desperately need them. It will make a huge difference for the children here. Would you also forward our deepest gratitude to the Axis Foundation for this wonderful gesture?” – Ms Wendt, Occupational Therapist, the Priory School

More about Make Them Smile here

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Disability

Park Lane Stables

July 25, 2024By

Bringing the benefits of riding to more people with disability

Park Lane Stables is an award-winning Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centre enriching the lives of children and adults with disabilities or learning difficulties.

The Axis Foundation donated £2,754 to purchase two specialist saddles so that more people can reap the undeniable benefits of riding with the team at Park Lane Stables.

“Thank you so much for approving a grant for our charity. We are incredibly grateful. The grant will enable us to provide group sessions for those with the most complex needs.

“At present, we only have one specialist saddle, so we have to take the most complex people one at a time. Your grant will enable to increase participation. We also remember that the saddle also provides comfort for the horse which is just as important part of the partnership” – Natalie O’Rourke (Manager)

More about Park Lane Stables

Park Lane Stables operates over 6,000 individual riding sessions for young people with disabilities every year. Activities include assisted riding, horse care, carriage driving, equine therapy and hippotherapy.

The benefits, as the parents of young riders report, include improvements to physical/core strength; social and communication skills; mental health and wellbeing; behaviour and relationships and confidence and resilience.

The majority of staff here are registered as disabled and most have been previous clients of the charity, now finding meaningful employment within the centre.

Here’s more about the charity which is based in Richmond, Surrey.

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Donations

The Garden Classroom

July 25, 2024By

Specialist equipment helps SEN kids re-connect with nature

The Garden Classroom (TGC) is a multi-award winning charity dedicated to reconnecting people with nature.

The Axis Foundation donated £2,008 to enable the Islington-based charity to purchase equipment for Hobbs Hill, their site for day trips and multi-night camping. Hobbs Hill (in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is designed to offer urban children a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in nature.

“Your donation is going to make a huge difference to our facilities on camp, especially for those children with Special Educational Needs. Your support will help us provide inclusive and accessible access to enriching, life-changing experiences for nature-deprived children, with impact extending well beyond their enjoyment of the camp itself.

“Our aim is always to create a deep connection with nature that can resonate throughout the lives of those taking part: and we couldn’t do this without your help – thank you!” – Millie Darling, Director of Countryside Programmes

The Axis Foundation’s donation will benefit over 200 children and their teachers who visit the campsite each year. We enabled the charity to purchase SEN resources for an autistic safe space on the campsite and a 6-person hammock, both of which will help reduce sensory overload and provide a calm, relaxing environment.

The Foundation also provided funds for top-up tools (essential for hands-on activities like bushcraft and den building) and a tarpaulin to safely cover the fire circle and provide shade for eating and cooking.

There’s more about The Garden Classroom here

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Disability

Greengrow

July 25, 2024By

Accessible toilet for visitors with disability

Greengrow is a not-for profit, ecologically-run farm which produces food boxes for local households and grows food for a local food bank. They also offer enriching educational countryside experiences for urban children.

The charity was seeking funding for an accessible composting toilet for visitors with disability – and the Axis Foundation donated £5,000 to help them.

“We can’t thank you enough, this has made our week; it will make a huge difference to our organisation.This funding will allow us to reach out to more people who will benefit from our beautiful farm. It will be a real legacy project that will form part of our Care Farm hub.

“Thank you again so very much!” – Rozelle Bettesworth (Director)

Greengrow Farm currently has one composting toilet but it is not accessible for individuals with additional needs. The new accessible toilet for visitors with disability brings Greengrow a wider gain: Greengrow can offer more day placements for adults with learning disabilities and expand their offerings to schools so more visitors and come and learn about farming and growing food.

There’s more about Greengrow, a beautiful 34-acre mixed farm in the Waveney Valley, here

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Donations

Free to Be Kids

July 25, 2024By

Transformative mental health support via the outdoors

Free to Be Kids transforms the mental health of disadvantaged London children via outdoor experiences including the 5−day residential Thrive Outside project. Here children meet animals at the farm, build dens in the woods, cook together and camp under the stars. Most projects are based at Cudham Environmental Activities Centre in Kent, owned by Free to Be Kids’ charity partner the Woodcraft Folk.

Each year, Free to Be Kids runs 25 such residential breaks supporting around 400 children most of whom have never left their corner of London.

The Axis Foundation was delighted donate £7,993 to pay for the materials for a new storage facility at Cudham. This took the form of a weather-proof, insulated and secure storage shipping container.

“Simply put, without your support, we may not have been able to continue using Cudham. All of our project equipment (bedding, sports, cooking, outdoor activity equipment) had been stacked to the roof in a tiny storeroom which we were no longer able to use.

“We would need to reduce child place numbers by 30% annually, meaning c120 vulnerable children would have no access to transformative mental health support via the outdoors that we offer” – Mike Gee, Free to Be Kids CEO

And our Axis Apprentices install the storage container!

Axis’ apprentices cleared the land and laid the foundations for the shipping container, then weatherproofing it and connecting it to power. They fitted out the inside with shelving and waterproof crates for storage. And they also then fenced it in, to make sure the new storage facility was secure, and put in some attractive planting too.

More about Free to Be Kids

Winners of London Youth’s ‘Adventure Charity of the Year’ (2022) and ‘Outdoor Education’ (2019), Free to Be Kids supports children in Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Bromley who experience multi-factor harm, including parental addiction, neglect, abuse, poverty and homelessness, resulting in significant emotional/behavioral difficulties affecting mental health. There’s more about their work offering transformative mental health support via the outdoors here

And you can read more about the Cudham Centre on the Woodcraft Folk’s website here

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Disability

Ruby’s Fund

July 25, 2024By

New specialist hoist supports those with disability

After her daughter Ruby was born and diagnosed with a rare chromosome disorder, Alison Parr identified a gap in support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. So, she founded Ruby’s Fund. And now, this award-winning charity supports 2,000 families (including children and carers) each year in Cheshire East.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation, recognising the excellent work of the charity, awarded Ruby’s Fund £4964.79 to cover the purchase and installation costs of a new tracking hoist in the disabled toilet at their centre.

“I was delighted to hear we have been awarded the grant to allow us to fit a hoist in our disabled bathroom. It will make such a difference to the families who require specialist support, such as hoisting, and we will proudly show them the hoist when it is installed. On behalf of Ruby’s Fund, the staff, volunteers and the families we support, thank you. We appreciate your generosity and kindness” –  Alison Parr, Founder, Operations and Impact Manager – and Ruby’s mum

More about Ruby’s Fund

Ruby’s Fund’s overall aim is to provide early help for families of young children with SEND to ensure they stay well and avoid reaching crisis point: to help them thrive, be happy and feel part of a bigger family. High quality facilities at Ruby’s Fund centre include a café, a sensory room with hoist, soft play area, siblings’ play room, a sensory garden and changing room with hoist. The centre benefited 6,000 visitors in 2023.

They also offer outreach sessions at partner venues and onboard their mobile sensory bus. The dedicated team offers person-centred support to disadvantaged and vulnerable children and families; improving their quality of life and wellbeing.

Feedback highlights

• 95% of parents said Ruby’s Fund has improved their overall sense of wellbeing
• 100% of parents felt ‘listened to’ by Ruby’s staff
• 66% of parents felt Ruby’s Fund support had prevented them seeking crisis support from their GP
• 93% of parents felt better informed on how to be a good parent carer
• 100% of parents would recommend Ruby’s  Fund support services to other parent carers.

There’s more about their work here

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Care

Down Syndrome Cheshire

July 25, 2024By

Supporting therapy sessions to empower those with Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome Cheshire is dedicated to empowering individuals with Down syndrome, helping them unlock their potential and live the lives they choose.

The Axis Foundation donated £3,000 to Down Syndrome Cheshire to purchase sensory and musical equipment for babies, children and families to use during therapeutic sessions. Therapy sessions are designed to enhance social, communication and educational skills.

“This is wonderful news! Thank you so much from everyone here at Down Syndrome Cheshire. This will make such a big difference to our small, local charity as we can purchase more sensory and music equipment, allowing us to run more therapy sessions for our members, especially over the summer holidays.

“Developing strong communication skills is so important for our members. We are delighted to have been awarded this grant, as it will significantly benefit our families and their children, particularly in developing communication skills and having lots of fun!” – Julie Duff, Chair

More about Down Syndrome Cheshire

The charity was established in in 2007 by a group of local mothers who all had babies with DS. It has grown to directly support over 350 children and adults with DS and their families, as well as informing education and health professionals and the wider community. Visit their website here for more information

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Disability

Help for Daisy and her Family

June 12, 2024By

New wetroom and bedroom will help Daisy’s independence –  and support her family too

Daisy is a 6-year-old child with profound disabilities. At three months old, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called KCNA1 which causes severe epilepsy, skeletal issues, global development delay and emotional issues. Additionally, she needs to be ventilated via a tracheostomy 24/7.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to contribute £2,223.45 towards creating a downstairs bedroom and wet room to help Daisy to live safely and with greater independence at home.

Thanking the Foundation her mother, Fiona, said: “Thank you so much for the good news!”

Explaining the difference a downstairs bedroom and wetroom will make for Daisy, Fiona continued: “Daisy will be able to spend more time with her family instead of being confined to her upstairs bedroom where she needs humidified ventilation to make it easier for her to breathe when she is poorly.

“As Daisy is getting older it is making it harder to carry her up the stairs. We looked at installing a through floor lift but unfortunately Daisy’s bedroom is not big enough to allow this – and as she gets older she needs a bigger bed.

“We are extremely positive as a family and focus on the things we can do rather than the things we cannot do. Daisy’s story is a whirlwind from the day she became poorly to where we are at right now.”

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disadvantaged

Ipswich Community Playbus – Dennis

June 11, 2024By

Transporting play to disadvantaged children

Ipswich Community Playbus transports the benefits of fun and educational play to disadvantaged children and families living in Ipswich. Maggie the current Playbus is an impressive 40 years old: she is retiring soon and putting her wheels up for a well-earned rest!

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £10,000 helps Ipswich Community Playbus convert a new Playbus –  Dennis –  into another amazing play space.

“This is wonderful news and so very much appreciated! Your donation will enable Dennis to take to the roads and carry on the Playbus legacy very soon. On behalf of all the children and families, the Trustees and staff thank you so very much” – Mandy Potter, Playbus Co-Ordinator

Facilities on board Dennis include a built-in slide, sand pit, new toilet and baby change area as well as a built-in generator which will serve the on- board lighting and heating, UV window film and carpet for the top deck play area.

More about Ipswich Community Playbus

The Ipswich Community Playbus brings the benefits of play into the homes of families who live in social housing and who may not have play areas nearby.

The staff on board the bus follow the Early Years Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum in planning various and different themes each term to engage young children and develop their learning skills, bringing families and communities together.They are also able to signpost families to relevant other services/groups/activities should they be experiencing difficulties including job security and health/ financial worries.

Read more about their work here

 

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Two small children Kaiden Burman and Marla BurmanDisability

New bed for little Kaiden

June 10, 2024By

Helping little boy with Dravet Syndrome – and his family

Axis’ Fleet Manager Taylor Burman applied to the Axis Foundation to acquire a specialist cot bed for his son Kaiden who suffers with Dravet Syndrome, a very rare and complex form of epilepsy.

Taylor told us: “We are always looking for ways on how keep Kaiden safe. He only sleeps about three hours a day and can be up all night. He needs monitoring systems constantly overnight. When we are at Demelza, he uses a specialist bed. It is electrically operated and has perspex panels and padding and is really great for him. So, I applied to the Foundation for help to buy something similar.”

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were completely unanimous in their decision to support Taylor and his family and have made a donation of £11,000 to buy the bed.

Thanking the Foundation, Taylor said: “From the very day I started with Axis just under three years ago now, I’ve been supported by such a fantastic company. Axis is a company you want to stay with, there are no other companies like Axis, Axis is like a family, The Axis Family.

Taylor told us: “It was only two years ago, Kaiden caught Covid from hospital, at just one of his many visits, and due to his condition, we nearly lost him. It was extremely touch and go and unfortunately he had to be medically induced into coma. I remember ringing my manager at the time, David Crampton, and broke down in tears on the phone.

“The words and support I received from the board of directors, managers, colleagues and operatives were amazing. It was a tough time, but strangely that support helped us, helped Kaiden.

“I was later introduced to the Axis Foundation, constantly being told by [Foundation Founder, Axis CEO] John Hayes: ‘Taylor, the Foundation is your Foundation, use it.’

“I had always turned it down: my reasoning was, Axis does enough for me, and I wasn’t sure there is anything that could help Kaiden. I was WRONG!

“Kaiden started going to Demelza in Sittingbourne last year. We were extremely anxious about leaving him over night. He has no sense of danger at all. Our hospital consultants explained it like this: ‘If you put an item in fire, a normal person would keep away from the fire, but Kaiden would walk into the fire and sit in the fire to play with that item.’

“And because he also has epileptic seizures, it just wasn’t safe to have him in a normal bed. Demelza had a purpose-built specialist bed just for him, for children like him, something we have not seen or heard of. So I enquired with Demelza about the bed, the safety of the bed and most importantly, does Kaiden like it (he does!).

“When we were in the process of moving home, our wonderful [Foundation Trustee/Axis Divisional Finance Controller] Claire Pearce reached out to me asking if there is ANYTHING the Foundation could do for my family. The rest is history.

“My family and I would just like to thank the Foundation their support in providing the bed, it has taken a humongous amount of pressure off me and my wife. It’s very hard to put in words how thankful we are. Thank you!”

More about Kaiden

Kaiden, suffers with a disability called Dravet Syndrome, which is a rare and complex form of epilepsy. He requires 24/7 care at home and school and needs regular assistance at our charity partner Demelza’s hospice in Sittingbourne. Demelza’s home care team provide respite for the family too. including his sister Marla.

Because of related co-morbidities (including autism, mobility and sleep issues, low immunity and oxygen levels) and vulnerability to SUDEP (sudden unexplained death in epilepsy) Kaiden is also treated frequently at specialist hospitals including Evelina and Great Ormond Street as well as the family’s local hospital, Medway in Kent.

Up till now, he has slept in his parents’ room along  with all his vital equipment including Oxygen machine and bottles, medication, and seizure and oxygen monitoring systems.

As Kaiden, now five, grows and gets heavier it is increasingly hard to lift and carry him so the local council are re-homing the family to a larger home with hoists and lifts – and where he will have a room of his own.

And, thanks to the Axis Foundation, he now has a practical, safe cot too.

 

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