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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Elderly Woman at daycare centre being supported by unpaid carerCare

Carers Choices

November 12, 2016By

Minibus gives support to volunteer carers

The Axis Foundation has donated £7,500 to Carers Choices to assist them in buying a minibus. The charity, which operates in Essex, provides support for volunteer carers in the local community. They will use the minibus to transport carers and those that are cared for to their daycare centres and facilitate their respite services. This enables the carers to attend appointments, do some shopping, meet up with friends and have some ‘me time’ which can do wonders for a carer’s wellbeing. The Axis Foundation’s support also means the charity will be able to take a group of their clients out for the day, allowing the carers some respite.

 “The very generous funding from the Axis Foundation has enabled us to achieve the imminent delivery of a new minibus to be used by volunteer carers and the ‘cared for’ in the community. The ability to transport larger numbers of our clients, of whom many are in a wheelchair, is key to the provision of a more varied schedule of activities for those most needing the stimulation from the activities or the carers needing respite. Having access to this minibus will open up a whole new world for some of our clients who often suffer in isolation and lonelines” – Angela Allum, Silver Birch Centre Manager

More About Carers Choices

Carers Choices have three daycare centres; two of which provide activity-led stimulation, fun and movement for those living with Dementia. This has a double effect in that it provides a full day of respite for the carer as well as improving the mental and physical wellbeing of the person living with Dementia. The third daycare centre offers specialist care for adults with disabilities ranging from learning difficulties to physical conditions such as muscular dystrophy, quadriplegia, spina bifida and cerebral palsy. Carers Choices also send trained Support Workers into the homes of unpaid carers to assist them in their caring role.

 

 

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Child having a horse riding lesson at Vauxhall City farm.Community

Vauxhall City Farm

November 6, 2016By

Horse riding therapy at urban city farm helps disabled and disadvantaged children

Vauxhall City Farm started out in 1977 with local people working voluntarily to transform derelict land into an oasis of country life in the heart of London. Their Horse Riding Therapy Centre has been helping the Vauxhall community since opening in 2002.

The Axis Foundation has been supporting Vauxhall City Farm for many years. We have donated a total of £25,000  to the charity through five separate donations since our first donation in 2006. In addition, Axis people actively volunteered at the farm as it was close to our then Head Quarters.

 “Vauxhall City Farm Riding Therapy Centre has had a very successful year since receipt of payment of the grant from the Axis Foundation. We aim to continue to provide the current number of lessons to disabled and disadvantaged children and sustain the much-valued work for the benefit of local young people. We cannot thank you enough” –  Riding Centre Manager, Linda Hinds 

More About Vauxhall City Farm

Vauxhall City Farm’s horse riding project targets disabled and disadvantaged children in inner-city areas who would not normally have the opportunity to horse ride. In one year the centre provided 1,283 riding lessons to young people and 1,878 riding for the disabled lessons. Their feedback has shown that the horse riding therapy project offers a substantial amount of beneficial factors including increased confidence, relationship building and achieving individual goals, Horse riding and can also act as a form of physiotherapy.

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A horse at the diamond centre that provides horse riding therapyDisability

The Diamond Centre

June 8, 2016By

We help more disabled riders enjoy horse riding

The Diamond Centre is a charity that provides horse riding facilities to support disabled children and adults. Horse riding is widely recognised to be beneficial for both physical and mental health, and 320 riders enjoy its positive effects at the centre every week.

Our funding will support a horse called Splash. The donation will cover the cost of his hay, hard feed, straw, veterinary fees and all other caring costs for an entire year.

“We are delighted that the Axis Foundation has sponsored Splash who, although little, is a big favourite with our riders. The donation will allow us to continue to offer horse riding for the disabled children – as well as enabling them to have fun!” – The Diamond Centre

More About The Diamond Centre

Based in Surrey, The  Diamond Centre specialises in all aspects of horse riding for the disabled including: dressage, carriage driving, vaulting and hippotherapy. Riders, all aged between 4 and 65, get to enjoy regular contact with horses with the assistance of an instructor. The experience of horse riding gives people independence, a sense of achievement, and most importantly, a smile on their faces.

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Disabled child in specialist mobility chairDisability

George Tappenden Fund

May 3, 2016By

Specialist mobility wheelchair for disabled toddler

Toddler George Tappenden lost the use of his legs due to Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) so the Axis Foundation donated £3,000 to help his family buy his new specialist mobility chair.

The chair supports George’s body and enables him to get around more easily, stand up, sit on the floor, play with his siblings and be able to experience a life closer to that of a typical, happy toddler. The specialist mobility chair cost £21,000: George’s family and friends organised successful fundraisers including raffles, quiz nights, balls and auctions to raise the required amount; our donation helped them reach the total they needed.

George’s mum, Lucy Frost said: “We want to thank the Axis Foundation and all the people who donated. It’s hard to believe that it was just before Christmas that we were told George had SMA, and when we were told how much the specialist mobility chair cost it felt like we were never going to get there – but we did. What is very hard as a mother is knowing that George will get worse, and everything he ever needs or uses is going to have to be designed to him. That’s why I hope people continue to be so kind and support us. Thank you.”

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Child and teacher on Heltwate School trip to NorfolkDonations

Heltwate School

April 23, 2016By

Helping students with learning disabilities gain life skills

The Axis Foundation donated £200 to Heltwate School to assist them in organising a school trip to for their students: all have severe special educational needs and some are on the Autism spectrum. The children spent a week away on the Norfolk Coastline. They stayed in two youth hostels and visited destinations and attractions around Norfolk.  Far more than a sight-seeing exercise, this school trip enabled students with learning disabilities firstly to live a little more independently, and also taught them some basic skills such as meal preparation and tidying, cleaning and bed making. For some it was the first time, or the longest time, that any of them had spent away from home.

Our donation made the trip even more special: it paid for the students to take part in a boat cruise – on which some thoroughly enjoyed steered the boat; and we also contributed to a day trip to the North Norfolk Railway which was a real treat as many of the children love transport.

“We were blown away to receive such a generous donation from the Axis Foundation. I cannot put into words the difference it made to our trip. They enjoyed themselves immensely and the growth in confidence and self esteem during the week away was evident” – Kim Granger, teacher 

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Four men from England Deaf Rugby Team show trophyDonations

England Deaf Rugby Team

August 11, 2014By

 Support for Deaf Rugby player

Paul Cooper, a member of the England Deaf Rugby team, Paul Cooper, received £500 from the Foundation which will go towards training equipment and transport costs to get to and from matches.

The Deaf Rugby team was set up for deaf and hard-of-hearing players who are often overlooked by mainstream clubs because of their disability. However, it often relies on donations for equipment, training facilities and transport to operate. The importance of the club goes beyond access to sport. The team were invited to take a tour of the Houses of Parliament and discuss deaf awareness with MPs.

Paul explained: “It’s not easy to communicate when you have partial hearing loss and making those in parliament aware of the challenges and issues that need to be addressed will hopefully help the wider deaf community.”

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Children playing with carers from the London Centre for Children with Cerebral PalsyDonations

LCCCP

July 20, 2013By

Helping children with Cerebral Palsy

The London Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy is the only government-approved centre and school in London for children with cerebral palsy. They support children from birth to 11 years old, as well as their families and professionals who work with them.

Cerebral palsy affects about 1 in 400 children and the lives of an estimated 50,000 people in the London region alone. Typically this condition results in movement disorders, but many sufferers also have significant learning disabilities, limited communication skills and additional disabilities such as epilepsy, hearing and visual impairment.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of  £3,500 is supporting the specialist education programme called Conductive Education. Our donation will provide sensory equipment to the Parent and Child groups run at the centre in Muswell Hill, North London. This style of learning helps teach children to develop their capabilities, however limited, so they can be as independent as possible. The children are taught using language built around physical tasks, sensory equipment and songs which reinforce tasks.

 “The educational items purchased by The Axis Foundation are enhancing the curriculum and enabling pupils to maximise the skills they learn in Conductive Education. As a result, pupils have improved their communication skills and ability to learn. Each child has also developed and improved their physical skills and overall cognitive functions, which is reducing their need for care and assistance with everyday activities.

“Items purchased included three multi-sensory story books, switch-adapted toys (Cassy the singing bear), curriculum resources for science (jumbo magnifiers), skeletons, colour-changing pebbles, story cushions, a classroom tidy and a Nintendo Wii. Children are benefiting greatly from their new educational resources because it allows them to understand topics in science, literacy and PHSE (personal, social and health education) lessons.

“We are very grateful for the help from The Axis Foundation” – Anna Salamonowicz, Head of Fundraising 

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13 year old charlie smiling after life enhancing operationDisability

Charlie Randell Fund

June 1, 2013By

Help and hope for sufferer of Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Charlie has suffered from Spastic Cerebral Palsy since birth, meaning that he is unable to control his limbs. The debilitating condition prevents him from being able to walk independently.

The Axis Foundation has answered a plea from Charlie’s family to help contribute towards his £55,000 operation, giving him a new lease of independence. Charlie’s family and friends have worked exceptionally hard to raise the rest of the money needed through fundraising events such as raffles, a school disco, race nights, a zumbathon and various ad hoc donations.

£5,000 from the Axis Foundation will go towards a life-enhancing operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, that aims to isolate the nerves that send ‘bad’ signals from the brain to the legs and hopefully give Charlie more control of the movement in his lower body. If the operation is successful, Charlie should become more flexible and be able to do more things – his ultimate aim is to be able to dress himself.

Charlie’s mum, Amanda Randell: “Everyone who has supported us has been fantastic and that includes Axis. This is a huge single donation and we have been blessed to have been awarded it. The money will be a massive help – we cannot stress how grateful we are”.

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Two children rock climbing at school trip with Quest Specialist SchoolDonations

Quest Specialist School

April 23, 2013By

Minibus mobility for Autistic students

Quest Specialist School takes pupils age age 5-19 years across the autistic spectrum. The school helps students to develop appropriate behaviour, communication and functional life skills, which will assist them to lead independent lives in the future.

£20,000 from the Axis donation has covered the cost of a brand new minibus for the school so that they can take students on school trips. Out-of-school visits allow pupils to practice practical skills in the real world, such as using shops, cafes and libraries as independently as possible. In addition, the minibus transports students to sporting activities such as physiotherapy classes, swimming and trampolining.

“The work being done by the Quest School is truly inspirational and is providing disadvantaged young people with genuine life changing opportunities. We hope that by donating this minibus the Axis Foundation will help the students at the school to further develop through expanded community activities” – Axis Foundation Chairman Peter Varney

The severity of Autism suffered by children at the Quest School means they require one on one care by qualified staff. Many have been excluded from attending mainstream special schools so would otherwise have very little exposure to activities where they can interact with other children. Now that they have a more reliable minibus, the specialist school can take students to more exciting and far-flung destinations!

“Before Axis Foundation so kindly helped us, we were struggling with an old, unreliable and costly minibus. The donation of a brand new bus has enabled us to undertake journeys with much more confidence, and we are now able to travel longer distances than previously. Recently, our pupils have experienced trips to London museums, the South coast to the Sea Life centre and trips that we would never have dared to attempt in the old bus. The pupils absolutely love the space, comfort and the opportunities that the bus has bought them. Thank you to everyone at Axis Foundation for making this possible” – Ashley Carter-Mepsted, Development Manager

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