Demelza

Fundraising and Volunteering for Foundation and Demelza

January 19, 2023By

There really are no limits to what our own Axis People will do to help the Axis Foundation and Demelza!

Everyone who works at Axis cherishes the Foundation and Demelza. We’ve been up (and got down) to many activities, Fundraising and using our Volunteering Days to support both causes close to our hearts. Here are just a few examples!

 

Fundraising for Demelza and the Axis Foundation

  • Ben Ibrahim, Divisional Manager, ran the London Marathon. Ben raised £14,600
  • Our Oldbury Team organised a fiendish Treasure Hunt for Halloween. Their devilish enthusiasm raised £45
  • Kellie Turner, Head of  Community Investment, and Oliver Refson, Head of Sustainability and Quality, abseiled down the ArcelorMittal Orbit in Stratford Olympic Park. Kellie and Ollie raised £1,500
  • With Croydon Council, our team in Croydon hosted an 11-a-side charity football match, raising £640

Volunteering to help our Foundation charities

  • Colin Norwood, Projects Supervisor, Joseph Hayes, Business Development Manager, and Kemeisha Brown, Resident Liaison Officer, all volunteered at Arts for All, a creative charity based in London which runs art therapy sessions for people with special needs.
  • Marketing crew Tim Aslett and Kurt Mussell volunteered at The AHOY Centre which helps disadvantaged children in Deptford learn life skills on the water.
  • HR Intern Grace D’Souza volunteered at Hope in Depression,  supporting individuals managing depression and/or anxiety.

Volunteering to support Demelza

At the Warehouse: RLOs Sarah Cooper, Martine Hales, Adila Gredelj, Donna Tryhall Adila Gredelj, Elma Gredelj, Christina Castle and Ben Nitsch, Electrician, sorted donated items at Demelza’s warehouse in Maidstone, Kent for delivery to Demelza’s charity shops.

And In the Garden: Lorrae Mannering, Commercial Manager,  Katie Hayes, Team Leader, Gary Weaver, Multi-trader, Bradley Emms, Groundworker, Michael Kitts, Multitrader Steve Hogben, Electrician Jake Remon, Apprentice Electrician, Emily Nisbett Commercial Analyst,  Stuart Carlow, Plumber, Thomas Darling, Apprentice Plumber, Ryan Kelly, Plumber, Louie Attaway, Plumber, Anthony Veal, Supervisor, Geoffrey Collins, Multitrader, Michael Kitts, Plasterer, Stephanie Hendry, Administrator and Amelia Randall, Scheduler, all spruced up the gardens at Demelza’s Sittingbourne Hospice.

Two Sittingbourne operatives, Nigel Blackshaw and Dave Day, helped Demelza by collecting Christmas trees in Tunbridge Wells, Bromley, Medway and Swale. Demelza will use the trees for topping up bark pathways, mulching underneath trees and hedges and composting in the grounds of the Sittingbourne Hospice.

Main picture: Francesca Fordham, Rositsa Kormeva, Tanya Edwards, Sarah Cooper and Connor Ritson from Projects volunteered to raise funds at Morrisons in Thamesmead for Demelza.

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Care

Asthma Relief

December 5, 2022By

Our donation buys nebulisers for people with asthma.

Asthma Relief provides essential Medical Breathing Equipment such as nebulisers to hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, medical centres, hospices and palliative care teams.

The Axis Foundation was delighted to donate £5,700 to Asthma Relief to purchase 30 nebulisers to support their Hospices in London programme.

“Asthma Relief Charity was delighted to receive a grant of £5700.00 from the Axis Foundation. This grant will help support hospice patients in London who need nebuliser treatment as part of their vitally important palliative care. We have already allocated 20 nebulisers, 10 of which were placed at the Royal Trinity Hospice. We were absolutely thrilled to learn that the hospice now has a nebuliser available for every room on the Inpatient Unit!

On behalf of Asthma Relief Charity, the hospices, patients and carers we would like to say A HUGE THANK YOU to the Axis Foundation” – Dave Penman, Founder & Honorary Manager

More About Asthma Relief

The Swindon-based charity responds to urgent requests for nebulisers. Requests can come from anxious parents, patients, doctors, the isolated or the elderly. For all of them – they or a loved one may be struggling to breathe – every moment is precious.

Additionally, they aim to assist anyone whose life is restricted by a breathing condition to be able to go about their day as normally as possible. So, they might enable a child with severe breathing difficulties to go on family or school outings; or supply a machine for an older patient, helping them get out of the home and engage more. They can also support terminally ill patient to be at home to spend their final days with loved ones.

There’s more here here

“Thank you so much for the deliveries – they are hugely appreciated Now, more than ever, they are needed to keep people out of hospital and give them care wherever we can provide it. We will be distributing to care homes and suitable venues and we will make sure they are put to good use” – a Doctor

“Just a line to say a “Big Thank You” for not only sourcing a very much needed nebuliser for me but for getting it to us so quickly! I’ve been using it 4 times a day since Thursday and can already feel a huge relief. Thanks to you I can now breathe easier and deeper without wheezing. No words can ever thank you enough, during this stressful time. You are amazing people. People like myself wouldn’t survive without you. Thank You” – a patient

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Demelza

Axis team raises £10,600 for Demelza

October 20, 2022By

Our Axis team raised £10,600 for our charity partner Demelza Hospice Care for Children on a sponsored cycle ride.

Axis’ Lee Covington, Lee Pearce, Leslie Crabbe, Jake Thomas, and Elliot Pillin cycled from London to Paris in 24 hours to raise funds for our charity partner.

The Axis team, who work in the Projects Division, cycled a total of 180 miles, starting at Trafalgar Square in London, then heading for Newhaven and over to Dieppe, and finishing at the Eiffel Tower.

They smashed their target of £10,000, raising £10,600 all of which will be donated to our charity partner, Demelza via the Axis Foundation.

Our generous subcontractors sponsored the ride and their logos were proudly emblazoned on our cyclists specially-commissioned kit. With special thanks to…

  • Adeva Home Improvements Ltd
  • A-Z Stone Repairs Ltd
  • Britelite Windows Limited
  • E&C Construction Ltd
  • Exterior Plas Ltd
  • Genesis Incorporated Ltd
  • Granville Noise Insulators Limited
  • Heron Joinery
  • Masons Scaffolding
  • Rich Demolition Limited
  • Russell Trew
  • Symphony Windows
  • Ultimate Access Solutions LTD
  • VH Electrical (UK) Ltd

… and a big thank you to everyone else who supported our team and helped Demelza too.

You can still support them here 

Here’s what the team had to say:

“Since having my young son Ellis, it has made it more apparent what a great job Demelza do… this bike ride was a good way to raise money to help support the charity in the fantastic work they carry out”-  Lee Covington

“The ride was full of emotions what kept me going was Axis team and the help we were giving to Demelza” – Leslie Crabbe

“It was an experience that I will never forget, although it was hard it was worthwhile for the money that was raised to support the Axis Foundation and the fantastic causes” – Lee Pearce

“It was the best and hardest experience of my life so far; it was only possible with the great team of people around me at Axis!” – Jake Thomas

“Our joint effort raised a substantial amount of money, which will hopefully go a long way to help those less fortunate” – Elliott Pillin

There’s more about our precious partnership with Demelza here

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Demelza

Precious Partnership with Demelza

July 8, 2022By

The Axis Foundation is proud of our precious partnership with Demelza Hospice for Sick Children. In our 13-year history, the Foundation has donated £707,000 to Demelza.

Our donation of £6,000 to Demelza was one of our Foundation’s very first donations. And when our Foundation’s donations reached an impressive total of £2m (July 2022) we were delighted to present Demelza with a cheque for £89,000 which marked our £2m Moment.

Like all good friends… we share some history

Our friendship with Demelza goes back nearly 20 years – all the way to 2004. We had formed a charity partnership even before the Foundation was born.

  • Our parent company Axis supported Demelza’s Bricks and Water appeal creating a Hydrotherapy Centre and two new bedrooms for teenage patients meanwhile refurbishing two existing bedrooms at their Sittingbourne hospice, Kent
  • Axis also contributed to building a new hospice in Eltham in south east London. Olympic champions and Demelza vice presidents Jayne Torvill and Robin Cousins opened the new premises in 2009. Celebrating the first anniversary of the Eltham hospice in 2010, our people joined Demelza supporters, nurses, children and their families at the ‘polka dot tea party’.

Like all good friends, we share some major triumphs

And yes, like all good friends we share great sadness too

When Liam and Amy Hayes’ son Benjamin Jeffrey John Hayes was born in 2019 and suffered brain damage during birth, the family took Benjamin to Demelza where, as Liam says:“They helped us make happy memories, even at the toughest time our family has ever been through.” You can read Benjamin’s story here.

We Axis people love Demelza

Axis people are in their element – snow, ice, water, air, mud – when we are fundraising for our charity partner Demelza. Tough Mudder challenges, cycling to Paris, swimming, boxing, flying, running, climbing in the Arctic, walking hundreds of miles, dancing, baking, eating (even not eating) – there’s no stopping us when it comes to raising funds for Demelza and the Axis Foundation. There’s more about our challenges here

Our clients, suppliers and subcontractors too have generously given at our golf days and charity ball to support both charities.The Axis Foundation’s Winter Appeal 2021 raised £75,000 for Demelza thanks to Axis people, our suppliers and subcontractors. And our 2021 Charity Ball raised a whopping £340,000 for the Axis Foundation’s small, local and impactful charities – including Demelza.

Map Matching

Foundation Funding Focus is mainly on the areas where our parent company Axis Europe works to make social housing properties safe and comfortable for residents: in London and the South East and Essex. Demelza offers hospice care in Kent and South East London, as well as helping families across the South East.

Money donated

All the money we raise goes into Demelza’s Adopt a Nurse programme, which brings a nurse full-time for one year. As well as visiting the children at the Hospice, the nurses also see their families at home to help with medication and physiotherapy as well as aid the parents in their time of need.

£100 buys nine hours of nursing care for a child with a life-limiting illness at Demelza.

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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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Mother and child at Demelzas Hospice Care for ChildrenDemelza

We raise £50,000 for Demelza’s Adopt a Nurse Scheme in 2014

December 22, 2014By

Demelza’s Adopt a Nurse programme benefits from our devotion and donations!

We Axis people put in a lot of effort to raise funds for our charity partner Demelza. In 2014 alone we have raised a grand total of £50,000 for the hospice.

“I’m proud to work with such generous and committed people, who share Axis’ giving culture and feel personally motivated to organise, take part in and give generously to fund raising activities,” said John Hayes Axis CEO.

All the money we donate to Demelza goes into their Adopt a Nurse programme. Adopt a Nurse brings one full-time nurse for one year to take care of the children in Demelza’s care and visit families at home to help with medication and physiotherapy and provide some respite in dark times.

Natalie Tegg, Head of Partnerships at Demelza said: “Axis has been outstanding in their support for Demelza over the years. All the staff have really got behind the charity and done all sorts of amazing things to raise money from running, to cutting their hair off, baking cakes, playing golf even dressing as a clown! They have raised an incredible £400K and we just want to say a huge thank you from everyone at Demelza.”

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Elderly man on specialist mattress to help patients in palliative care at St lukesCare

St Luke’s Hospice

May 28, 2014By

Specialist mattress helps patients in palliative care

In 2014, the Axis Foundation’s donation of £3,800 purchased a specialist mattress to help patients in palliative care at St Luke’s Hospice in Essex.

St Luke’s Hospice provides specialist medical, nursing, social and psychological care to people suffering with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses such as advanced cancer, heart failure and multiple sclerosis.

Patients here spend prolonged periods of time sitting and lying down due to the nature of their severe illnesses. Our mattress, of a unique construction combining air with a soft foam surface designed specifically to alleviate pressure, was particularly beneficial.

As the Hospice relies on donations for over 75% of the funding needed to continue their work, Allison Jones, the Hospice’s Funding Officer was delighted with our donation:

“Without the generosity of organisations like the Axis Foundation, we could not provide care service to the people suffering from these terrible illnesses or support the families who suffer along with them. It’s vital for our community that Hospice’s services are available for those in need; the organisations and individuals that fund us demonstrate our value to the community.”

St Luke’s is a registered charity serving the Basildon and Thurrock districts providing patients and their families with vital care services at no financial cost.

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Shooting Star nurse on home visits to families caring for a life-limited childCare

Shooting Star Chase

May 12, 2014By

Home visits to families caring for a life-limited child

Shooting Star Chase‘s ‘Hospice at Home’ scheme brings care to children approaching the end of their life in their own homes. The sick children are in familiar surroundings, with their family and their own home comforts. The service brings the same medical, nursing and therapeutic care as the hospices offer. The scheme gives families the chance to relax a little and do chores around the house or even go out, knowing that their child is in the best care.

To support this vital service, the Axis Foundation donated a total of £2,508 (£1,140 in 2013, £1,368 in 2014) which funded over 20 home visits to families caring for a life-limited child.

 “We now have one of the largest Hospice at Home teams in the country. We recorded an average of 250 home visits to families caring for a life-limited child per month. Yet, this is only made possible through the wonderful support from organisations like the Axis Foundation. Thank you.” –  Brian Gallagher, Shooting Star Chase

“Care is constantly changing and we need to be flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of the families we support. The Hospice at Home team plays a vital role allowing parents to be Mum and Dad, not just care givers. We’ll continue to develop the service so that the children and families we support can have the care they so desperately need in the location of their choice. We are very grateful for the donation from The Axis Foundation” – Elaine Conisbee, Interim Director of Care

What the families say

“When things become too much, and you really can’t see a way out of the dark hole you are in, the hospice proves that someone else really does care.”

“The Hospice at Home service is amazing. I feel like I’ve been on a mini-holiday, recharging my batteries and putting me in very good spirits.”

More About Shooting Star Chase

Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and CHASE Hospice for Children merged together to form Shooting Star Chase and to care for over 600 families living all across western London, Surrey and West Sussex who have a child or teenager not expected to reach their nineteenth birthday.

 

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Trustees giving a cheque to the Trinity Hospice.Care

Trinity Hospice

December 18, 2013By

End of life care for hospice patients

Trinity Hospice supports people through end of life care, with their main aim to help patients ‘live every moment.’ The charity provides both in-patient and home care to people with a range of conditions, from cancer to neurological illnesses, as well as respite and education services to their families.

The Hospice is majority funded by charitable donations, such as the £5,250 from the Axis Foundation which was used to purchase 10 pressure relieving mattress for the in-patient centre.

 “Providing care for members of our community is at the heart of the Axis Foundation’s objectives. We see Trinity’s specialist services as vital to improving the quality of life for sufferers and helping them through the medical choices and stages for their illness”-  Mick Hayes, Axis Foundation Trustee

“Many patients are admitted to us in the later stages of their condition and are confined to bed with limited mobility. The mattresses specially designed to support end of life care are an essential piece of equipment, able to prevent painful and uncomfortable symptoms, they minimise the risk of pressure build-ups and create a massaging effect that promotes sleeping patterns. The purchase of 10 new mattresses will benefit hundreds of patients over the coming years” – Zahra Khan, Trinity Hospice

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Axis Foundation Trustees and Demelza staff group together outside Demelza office.Demelza

Demelza Patron DJ Dave Berry accepts £48,000 for Demelza

November 15, 2013By

Capital FM DJ and Demelza Ambassador Dave Berry accepts a cheque for £48,000 for Demelza from the Axis Foundation.

“This is a phenomenal amount to have raised and will provide invaluable support to the children and families Demelza looks after. Axis clearly has some extremely committed and generous people working within it, and it is to them I would like to express my deepest thanks,” he said.

We presented the cheque to Dave at a ceremony at Demelza’s offices in Sittingbourne in 2013. As he is local to where our charity partner Demelza lives and works, including the Eltham hospice, Dave has seen first hand much of Demelza’s precious work with sick children and their familes. He and fellow patrons – including Daniel Radcliffe, Jayne Torville and Gary Lineker – are as committed as we are to supporting Demelza.
Berry is also involved in other local charities also supported by the Axis Foundation including the Charlton Athletic Trust where he supports the new youth services programme.

This donation, like all our donations from the Axis Foundation, will go towards Demelza’s fantastic ‘Adopt a Nurse’ project. The nurses work with both the children and families to provide the care and support at a time they need it the most.

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