Community

Manchester Urban Diggers

July 2, 2025By

Creating places for people to grow, cook and eat food together

Manchester Urban Diggers produces over 1 tonne of food annually at their main site: Platt Fields Market Garden. Here local people develop a wide range of horticulture skills, connect with others, increase their physical activity, share food, learn about sustainable food growing and get involved in developing ideas and projects.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to award Manchester Urban Diggers a grant of £7,000 to build an integrated water harvesting and automatic irrigation system.

This will help them reduce environmental impact, costs and labour, improve the experience of beneficiaries and staff, and model best-practice of low-input, sustainable agroecological food growing methods.

“We are absolutely thrilled and thankful to receive the generous donation from the Axis Foundation. We’ve started ordering and receiving the irrigation system and will be installing it as soon as we can – the recent weather shows you just how important this technology is going to be this year and the years ahead. We spend hundreds of hours a year keeping our plants alive and this system will dramatically reduce this – meaning we can produce more food and deliver more free community services/events” – Sam Payne, Director

More about Manchester Urban Diggers

Through growing, cooking and eating food, Manchester Urban Diggers improves the environment and personal wellbeing, and strengthens local communities.

Platt Fields Market Garden is also the home of MUD Kitchen where they operate a café to generate an income to help run the garden. MUD Kitchen also operates its own catering service which is open 7 days a week running seasonal fresh food around the city.

More here

 

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Burnside Centre

July 2, 2025By

Creating a Forest School in built-up estate

Burnside Centre supports the community and people of Langley Estate in Middleton, Manchester, a high-ranking area of deprivation in a built-up area with few green spaces.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support their application to create a Forest School, reclaiming unused wasteland behind their community building.

We have donated £9,700 to help Burnside purchase fixed seating for their storytelling outdoor area, interactive wooded structures, large resources to enhance exploration, and create an outdoor learning area. The funding will also enable Burnside to purchase vital resources to support community/family-based activities: SEND learning aids to ensure inclusion, support childhood wonder and engagement with nature.

Thanking the Foundation, Kerry Edwards Burnside Centre Manager said: “We’re a grass roots charity – committed to quality and people-focused engagement!

“Our community Forest School vision could not flourish and become reality without the fantastic support of the Axis Foundation. To be able to bring this green space to life for local children and families is a dream come true. It has been truly transformational to have your support – empowering our community-based learning journey. Sincere thanks to the Axis Foundation.”

More about Burnside Centre

Forest Schools offer hands-on learning in natural environments. They aim to foster confidence, self-esteem, and independence through engaging with nature. Burnside has invested in frontline staff training and formal Forest School accreditations. And their new Forest School at the Langley Estate will provide opportunities for local people and the wider community to benefit from volunteering, gaining new skills; and actively engaging with nature and all its wonders.

Open 50-weeks of the year, Burnside Centre offers workshops, learning, growth, support and development opportunities in a deprived area.

They deliver their services under three themes: crisis, proactive and progressive:

  • Crisis supports low income and vulnerable families and includes Food Bank vouchers, emergency food parcels & personal care supplies
  • Proactive support vulnerable people and unemployed people  and through Early Years provision, health and well-being sessions, learning courses and family support
  • Progressive offers large scale ambitious projects to uplift the wider community

More here

 

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Community

Creating a real home for Amy

July 2, 2025By

“Shell” house transformed into a safe and comfortable home

Axis’ Customer Experience Manager Joe Marshall made an application to the Axis Foundation on behalf of Amy McGinty as a result of our Ears and Eyes campaign, inviting employees to put forward suggestions/applications for the Trustees’ consideration.

Joe had seen a plea from Amy on Facebook for a sofa. He says: “As luck would have it, I had two sofas sitting in the garage, so I reached out to offer one of them. I hired a van and delivered it to her home, for free.”

Amy had just moved into a Community Housing home – and, when he dropped off the sofa, Joe found that it was a shell: bare walls, no white goods and no carpets. Amy was cooking for her two small children using only a microwave.

“As a parent myself, I was deeply moved by her situation. Despite everything, she’s staying strong and doing her best for her children, who are both happy and healthy, thankfully. But the thought of them living in those conditions, is tearing at my heart,” Joe told our Trustees.

And our Trustees were delighted to help support Joe’s application. The Foundation funded new flooring and a new bed. And our Axis apprentices painted and decorated Amy’s flat too.

Amy said: My experience with Axis has been amazing! Joe and The Axis Foundation have made such a huge difference to my family life and how I feel about my new home.”

Amy explained that before receiving help from the Axis Foundation, she was unsure how she would afford or manage the necessary decorating for her “forever home.” Having recently moved from temporary accommodation, her new place needed a lot of work.

“The Axis Foundation made this happen, and I’m so pleased with the outcome. My new home now truly feels like home – it’s absolutely amazing, compared to a few months ago. My children and I are so happy now!”

“The team involved was amazing; they were so thorough and just did a great job overall. I want to say a huge thank you to Joe for making this happen. Without his involvement, I’d still be living in a shell! And of course, to the Axis Foundation for all their help and support. Without them, my house wouldn’t be a home, and I’m loving being here now. More importantly, my children love it too!”

Joe Marshall said: Having been a part of Axis for the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the profound impact of the Axis Foundation’s initiatives within local communities. The Foundation not only extended crucial support for Amy’s cause, but also meticulously coordinated inspections and the subsequent restorative work, transforming Amy’s previously dilapidated residence into a comfortable and secure home for her and her children. It is genuinely a source of immense pride and satisfaction to be associated with an organisation that demonstrates such genuine commitment to the well-being of its local communities.”

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disadvantaged

Offshoot Foundation

March 12, 2025By

Film making helps young people develop life skills

The Offshoot Foundation uses film making to help disadvantaged young people develop life skills, raise their aspirations and reach their full potential. The young people they work with are often facing multiple barriers including poor mental health, additional needs including autism and ADHD, school refusal, caring responsibilities and living in areas of high deprivation.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support Offshoot with an award of £5,396 to enable them to purchase 4 iMacs. These provide an all-in-one computer with screen which is perfect for young people to use for their film making. Purchasing them means that more young people can reap the benefits that Offshoot provides.

“Thank you all for your wonderful donation to our charity. These iMacs will be able to help the many children we work with across East Anglia and London and, with our charity becoming bigger and more successful each year, it will mean they will be able to be used by even more young people as we grow.

“When I took these new iMacs to the Newmarket workshop and explained how we got them, the students could not believe that an organisation would do that for them, You could really see them feel that someone believes in them to make such a generous gesture and many of them  said thank you. They were in awe of the gesture.

“I look forward to sharing the Macs across our three Christmas workshops and spreading the news about Axis Generosity.  Thank you from Offshoot and all its young people” – Paul Press, CEO

Here’s what one young film-maker said about their experience at Offshoot:

“It really helped improve my confidence and possibly give me some ideas for future interests such as jobs, college, GCSE choices. It really developed my social skills, and I made new friends.”

More here

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Donations

Hackney School of Food

March 12, 2025By

Nutrition and food growing education supports community and wellbeing and combats food poverty

Hackney School of Food is an award-winning food education hub equipping children, families and the community with the knowledge and skills to cook and grow nutritious food, improving health and well-being and combating food poverty.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support them with a donation of £1,200 to purchase kitchen equipment including a fridge, dishwasher, cutlery and plates for their new Garden Room where they’ll deliver food and food-growing education to children, families and vulnerable people in their local area. The new space will also be a hub for community events and meals, helping to bring together the local community around delicious, healthy meals.

“Your donation will help us continue to empower our community by building lifelong cooking and food growing skills to combat food poverty and foster a healthier future. The new Garden Room we are opening in March will be a unique place for children in Hackney, and this support is helping us to build happier, healthier lives. Thank you” – Zoe McIntyre, General Manager

More about Hackney School of Food

In 2023-2024, Hackney School of Food welcomed 7,097 visits to its teaching kitchen and gardens, partnering with 58 schools and 20 community groups.
Hackney School of Food delivers a range of activities including curriculum-linked cooking classes for schools, afterschool and holiday provision, community adult classes and events.
They have won many prestigious awards including Civic Trust National Award 2021, Hackney Design Award for Inclusivity in Design 2021 and RIBA Stephen Lawrence Prize 2022 for their innovation and contribution to the community.

There’s more here

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disadvantaged

Edge Ministries

March 12, 2025By

Assisting ‘forgotten people’ in recovery from addiction

The Edge Ministries has four centres helping ‘forgotten people’ in the most deprived across North East Derbyshire.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to donate £3,370 to the charity. The donation will purchase a polytunnel and gardening tools plus seeds, plants and compost for Edge Ministries’ Community Wellbeing Garden at Staveley.

As a result of our donation, over 75 people will benefit from the Wellbeing Garden which encourages gentle outside exercise, improves mental wellbeing and reduces isolation.

The Wellbeing Garden, which supports people who are struggling with their wellbeing and those in recovery from addiction, is open 24/7 365. Volunteers and a qualified gardener manage the garden.

“This funding will make a huge difference in our ability to support people in recovery year round, by offering meaningful wellbeing activities in a friendly, safe and fun environment.  Thank you so much for the support of the Axis Foundation!” – Steve Martin, Chief Operations Manager

More about Edge Ministries

The Edge Ministries provides a friendly welcome, access to free food and to professional free social welfare advice as well as a range of social inclusion activities designed to improve physical and mental wellbeing, and an Open Living Room.

Their mission is to be a place of welcome for all, and to work with people to make a change in their lives, helping themselves out of their current situation into a better future.

There’s more here 

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disadvantaged

Community Albums

March 12, 2025By

Inspiring young people through music

Community Albums inspires young people to learn how to play musical instruments. Through the transformative power of music they help bring about positive change and build better communities.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support Community Albums in their project in East Ham in the London Borough of Newham, where our parent company Axis is located. We donated £2,176 to help equip and develop a studio here where young people will be able to use percussion instruments and DJ Decks. 

We estimate that up to 50 young people will be impacted immediately, and many more will benefit in the future: developing essential life skills, boosting confidence, enhancing emotional well-being and resilience, fostering a sense of belonging and self-worth, unlocking their creative potential and expanding their horizons.

Our donation bought:

  • Drum kit and drum sticks
  • DJ Decks
  • Percussion instruments (including Guiro, Cabasa, Maracas, Egg Shakers, Tambourine, Bar Chimes and Cahon)
  • Desk and chair 

“That’s wonderful news for our East Ham studio!! Thanks so much to all at the Axis Foundation. School children in deprived areas face a stark inequity in access to arts-based learning, impacting their overall development and life opportunities. Music is sometimes the only way they can express themselves and is, for some, a gateway into writing, composition and more personal self-expression.

“The equipment will make a huge difference to what we are offering the young people at the studio. We can’t wait to buy it all and show them! Thanks again from all of us at Community Albums. Your donation really is hugely appreciated!” – Jan Sheldon, Operations Manager

More about Community Albums

Community Albums’ passion is to amplify voices and so help build better communities.  Two award-winning composers, musicians and music producers Rob May and Simon Hill (of music production company Sitting Duck) founded Community Albums in 2011. They believe music has the power to inspire, heal, empower, unite and bring about positive change.

Community Albums run 1-2-1 therapeutic music sessions for all members of the community and especially love to work with young people with disabilities and more complex needs; and teach digital music and DJing skills and instrument playing. They also create films that share stories, and offer mentoring and career support.

Community Albums run group and 1-2-1 therapeutic music sessions for all members of the community and especially love to work with children and young people with disabilities and more complex needs. These sessions include: singing, digital music and DJing skills and instrument playing. They also create films that share stories, and offer mentoring and career support.

There’s more here

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Donations

Wildgoose Rural Training

December 17, 2024By

New classroom supports activities for disadvantaged adults and children

Wildgoose Rural Training provides activities for disabled adults and children who struggle with the normal education system and those facing problems with their mental health.

In 2023, the Trustees of the Axis Foundation awarded the Worcester based charity £10,000 to help build a new classroom.

The new classroom helped Wildgoose to expand its services and benefit a larger number of individuals in the local community and across Worcestershire.

 “Big thanks to Axis for supporting this project which has made a huge difference to our staff and students” –  Karen McConnell, Development Officer

And in 2024, the Foundation made a further award of £5,914 to build a new barn containing two new classrooms and a storage area. The extra classrooms mean an additional 14 students per day can join in the activities on offer.

More about Wild Goose

Wild Goose offers activities like agriculture, woodwork, mechanics, horticulture, animal husbandry, nature reserve management, cookery and a workstream program learning invaluable practical skills.

Through taking part in various activities students advance in the capacity and the skills required to support a more independent lifestyle.

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disadvantaged

Knight Support

December 12, 2024By

Chance to start again for homeless people and rough sleepers

Knight Support provides a vital service supporting homeless people and rough sleepers in Brighton and Hove

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £4,500 to Knight Support’s Home Comforts Project will buy electric kettles and toasters as well as pillows and duvets to add to Home Packs for people moving off the streets into temporary accommodation, where there may be only a bed.

Home Packs provide individuals with comfort, dignity and the ability provide for themselves. This can boost their self-esteem and morale at a time of need, and allow them to focus on rebuilding their lives.

“Thank you for the fantastic news regarding the grant that you are awarding us. We are extremely grateful to the Trustees of Axis Foundation for giving us the opportunity to continue to help our homeless clients get back on their feet when entering accommodation after a period of being on the streets.

“This makes such a world of difference to be able to offer this service and give people the chance to start over again and make a place feel like home” – Gemma Wright, Head of Operations

More about Knight Support here 

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disadvantaged

Glossopdale Furniture Project

December 12, 2024By

Home comfort for homeless

Glossopdale Furniture Project supplies donated items of furniture and household goods to people who have been homeless.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to support the Derbyshire-based charity with a donation of £7,500 to purchase furniture packs.

“I am writing to thank you so much for your kind donation of £7,500 to support families by way of a free furniture pack.This grant will be of enormous help. Please pass on our thanks to your Trustees for all their support to the Glossopdale Furniture Project” – Joan Cook, Volunteer Fundraiser

More about Glossopdale Furniture Company

Glossopdale Furniture Project supplies donated items of furniture and household goods to people who have been homeless (who have been given a new but empty tenancy) and people on low incomes. In addition, Glossopdale Furniture collects 100 tonnes of good useable furniture every year, which would otherwise go to landfill. They have a workshop where volunteers restore old furniture and make new items from recycled wood which are then sold to the public.

There’s more about their work here

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