Community

Open Hands Compassion Centre 

March 31, 2026By

New Van Powers Support for Vulnerable Families

The Axis Foundation has awarded £8,995 to Open Hands in Leicester to support the purchase of a replacement van for their furniture service.

“This funding will make a real difference, helping us continue to provide essential support to those who need it most” — Matt Tomlin, Furniture Service Manager

“Your donation made a big difference in not only helping us to purchase the van, but to being able to do so quickly” – Heather Berry, Communications and Marketing Coordinator

Open Hands provides furniture, clothing, food, and household essentials to individuals and families in crisis. The van is critical to collecting and delivering donated items across the city.

With 9% of UK adults unable to afford basic furniture, demand continues to rise. The charity supported 380 individuals and 170 households in the past year through its furniture service alone.

A new, reliable vehicle will increase delivery capacity, reduce maintenance costs, and ensure continuity of service. It will directly support around 400 individuals annually, with wider indirect benefits.

Open Hands is a Leicester-based organisation tackling poverty and hardship through practical support. Learn more here 

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Disability

Enhancing Independence

March 31, 2026By

Specialist Mobility Chair Enhances Independence and Safety

Charlotte lives with congenital spinal stenosis linked to achondroplasia, requiring highly specialised seating and mobility support.

Charlotte’s current mobility chair, in use since 2007, was damaged in a road traffic accident and is no longer safe.
On hearing of her situation, the Trustees of the Axis Foundation awarded £4,235 to Charlotte to complete the purchase of a specialist Balder powerchair and extended warranty.
The new chair will enable Charlotte to travel safely, attend medical appointments, continue physiotherapy, and maintain independence in daily living.
Charlotte says: “Thank you very much for your contribution toward my new powerchair, I am extremely grateful for the generous grant. It wasn’t until I began using my new Balder that I realised how worn out my old one was.”
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Disability

Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre

March 12, 2025By

Two Mercado Real 9000 chairs help people with MS and Parkinson’s

The Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre provides tailored physiotherapy-led exercise classes helping people with neurological conditions such as MS and Parkinson’s, and stroke survivors, be active and lead independent lives.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to donate £7,222 to enable the Surrey-based charity to purchase two Mercado Real 9000 chairs.

The Mercado Real 9000 electric chairs are fully adjustable, with ergonomic back and armrests, and are proven to help members with neurological conditions take part in exercises that will help with their co-ordination, core-strength and flexibility.

Thanking the Foundation, Bonnita Apperley, Trusts and Grants Fundraiser, said: “As a result of your donation, more members will be able to take part in our full range of classes, to help them keep active, so that they can keep as well as can be whilst they manage their symptoms and disability. Thank you.”

More about The Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre

The Ryan Neuro Therapy Centre currently has 108 active members, and this number is growing by between two and three people a week.

They offer their members a wide variety of activity classes in their bespoke neuro gym, as well as valuable social time, in a supportive and caring environment which helps them to make friends, connect with others, and feel positive, whilst managing their lifelong condition.

There’s more here

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Disability

Creating Safe Garden for Young Man with Rare Disability

July 25, 2024By

 

Brenden has a very rare disability called Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome characterised by delayed growth and development, intellectual and mobility disability, seizures and distinctive facial features. He needs 24/7 care

Brenden’s father desperately needed to create a safe outdoor space for his son. He wanted to level the whole garden and to create a large patio where Brenden could use his K-Walker and his wheelchair: a safe place for him to enjoy.

And this is where his landlord Peabody, Axis and the Axis Foundation in a true partnership were able to help! Peabody raised the alert to the family’s needs. Axis’ Nicola Barcoe, Partnering Manager, applied successfully to the Axis Foundation for support and personally undertook to oversee the works (value approximately £13,000).

The Axis team created a new patio of porcelain paving slabs (which are smoother and safer), levelling and adding astro turf to the remaining area. We put in a new fence, using funds contributed by Peabody while our sub-contractor M&R donated and fitted the shed, giving two additional days’ labour to the project with no charge. And our supplier Global Stones generously donated the paving slabs.

“It is unbelievable. This will really help Brendan with a better quality of life. We would like to thank Axis, the Axis Foundation and Peabody. They have been amazing” – Brendan’s parents

Peter Varney, Chairman of the Axis Foundation Trustees, said: “This project vividly represents what the Axis Foundation is all about and how it is a force for good. The Foundation believes in giving help where it is really needed, and where it can change a life. Here the Foundation has changed Brendan’s life.

“The partnership of Axis – operatives, supplier and subcontractor and the Foundation – with Peabody has created a space for this young man and his family to enjoy together now and in the future. We wish the family well.”

Nicola Barcoe said: “As well as Brenden’s other conditions he also suffers with social anxiety and doesn’t cope well in crowded surroundings which highlights the need for a usable open space which will be good for his mind, body and soul.

“It was a pleasure working with the Robinson family to create a new outside area for Brenden which will improve his  – and his family’s quality of life – and hopefully will give them years of enjoyment. I thoroughly enjoyed project managing these works through to completion and being the main point of contact for the family.

“I would like to thank the Axis Foundation for the funding and Peabody for funding fencing works, as well as  M&R and Global Stone who all helped give the family such an open and beautiful space.”

Elly Hoult, Chief Operating Officer at Peabody, said: “It’s incredible to see the results of Brenden’s garden transformation, and the big smile on his face. Now, this family can spend quality time together in a beautiful outdoor space. We believe that every resident deserves a safe and enjoyable home, and this initiative not only enhances Brenden’s quality of life, but also showcases Peabody’s commitment to supporting residents and fostering inclusive communities.”

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Disability

Mobility for Little Kit

December 20, 2023By

Accessibility and mobility for little boy in wheelchair

Kit was an able child until he was 18 months old in 2021, when he suffered a 2-hour long seizure. This caused significant brain damage and visual impairment. Kit is now five. He cannot walk, talk or crawl and needs constant care and hoisting.

Kit’s family have struggled to pay the cost of adapting their home: they plan to build an extension with fully hoisted bedroom, bathroom and storage area.

They needed to build an access path and ramp as part of these adaptations – and also so that Kit can use his motobility vehicle. The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to help the family. And so the Axis Foundation’s first donation of £7,000 created an accessibility ramp for the family home.

“We’re so grateful, you have no idea what this will do for our family (especially Kit!). We’re desperate to keep our son at home with us: but without the path we’re not allowed the extension and without the extension he will not be allowed to live with us (in the future). We want to give him the best life we can” – Katherine, Kit’s mother

The story continues

The Trustees, agreed to a further donation in 2025 of £3,000 to purchase a special hydraulic bath for Kit.

His mother Katherine explains the benefits: “The bath with water in can rise up so we can stand comfortably and bath him. Currently we have to lift him, and stand over a normal bath, which is very bad for our backs! It has extras including hot air jets, underwater speakers and lights. This is to make a bath a sensory experience for Kit. He can’t enjoy a lot of the world. He either can’t see it, or can’t understand it (such as watching football match or TV).

Again, the grant is life changing for all of us. It provides safety and basic care needs for Kit, as well as an incredible immersive sensory experience. Then it makes caring for him safe and easier for us, as it has a built in changing mat.”

You can support Kit here

 

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Disability

Red Eagle Foundation

December 19, 2023By

Multiple Donations Support Children with Severe and Complex Needs

The Red Eagle Foundation empowers disadvantaged children and grants wishes to children with life-limiting illnesses. There’s more about their work here.

The Axis Foundation’s donations to Red Eagle Foundation include:

  • £3,750 to purchase Hercules Prime Car Seat for a little girl, Lucy who has severe scoliosis.
  • £2910  to buy a Lecky My Way walker for Lyla who is two years and has a rare genetic condition which affects her muscle tone in all four limbs and trunk. She is impaired visually and unable to sit or roll by herself.
  • £5,000 to help buy buy both an electric wheelchair and all-terrain buggy for Arthur, a young boy with severe learning disabilities and complex health needs.

More about Arthur

“It was such a joy to see Arthur’s face at the wheelchair assessment… his joy of being in control of moving when there is so much that he can’t control due to his health. The buggy will also help him get out and about in areas where the wheelchair is not suitable. It is going to have such a positive impact on the family”  – Dominic Comins, CEO

Arthur is a 12 year old boy. He is classed as a SWAN  (‘syndromes without a name’) and despite a lifetime of procedures and tests, as his mother says, “what we don’t know is how my son’s condition will change as time goes on”.

Arthur’s physical and mental health are deteriorating and his mobility levels decreasing. He is cared for additionally by Demelza, the Axis Foundation’s charity partner.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to help Arthur by making his life more mobile with an electric wheelchair to increase his independence and accessibility at venues/events. For example, he loves going to Howletts Zoo to see the elephants; but the hill is a challenge in a manual wheelchair – particularly for his mother who has had two back operations.

More About Lyla

Lyla enjoys movements and is keen to explore, using her arms and legs when supported. Red Eagle want her to enjoy these movements in a safe way. And so they trialled her in a supportive walker called My Way from Leckey. This walker supported her well in her trunk and allowed her to use her legs better for moving around with assistance.

“This is a fantastic piece of equipment for Lyla as she can explore her space in a safe way and overcome her motor and visual disability. Lyla’s parents and I are very grateful to the Axis Foundation for their support. This equipment will be well used at home giving Lyla the independence to move around without being held all the time” – Dominic Comins, CEO

More About Lucy

Lucy is under the Red Eagle orthopaedic team who are monitoring her scoliosis which is progressively getting worse. She is able to sit in a car seat but requires postural support to protect her spine, a harness as she has no danger awareness, and a swivel base to access the car as she is unable to turn herself.

The Hercules Prime car seat purchased with our donation offers Lucy the postural support needed, and ease of access to the car. The family are unable to afford the car seat, having just had to privately fund an appropriate wheelchair for Lucy and are finding it increasingly hard to move or carry Lucy as she grows.

 “The seat has made such a huge difference to the life of not only Lucy but the whole family. Trips out are now fun, rather than a chore and Lucy is able to spend more time out of the house with her family which has made her so happy” – Dominic Comins, CEO

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Disability

Gift of freedom and mobility 

September 13, 2022By

Chloe O Donnell witnessed the devastating effects of isolation and loss of mobility on local resident Ashley Clarke.

Chloe is a Site Manager at Axis Europe. She and her team were carrying out major repairs and maintenance works on the west London estate where Ashley lives: once she had seen Ashley’s plight, assessed the situation and established what would help Ashley most, Chloe applied to the Axis Foundation asking for help.

As a result of Chloe’s recommendations, the Axis Foundation bought Ashley a power-assisted wheelchair.  Axis also fitted new automatic doors to accommodate the new chair.

Thanking the Foundation Chloe said: ‘“Ashley is obviously thrilled and has asked me to pass on his immeasurable gratitude to all involved in the process.”

More about our donation

Ashley Clarke is a severely disabled gentleman. He has severe arthritis in both hands, is paralyzed down his left side and has also had his left leg amputated.

Ashley’s carers place him in his wheelchair from his bed every morning, but his disabilities (he cannot use his hands) mean he can only move the wheelchair using his right foot. He has been housebound for three years, and spent most of that time stuck in one room.

As a result of an application by Chloe O Donnell, Axis Site Manager, the Axis Foundation donated a power-assisted wheel chair to Ashley. And we also fitted new automatic front door: at the press of a button or fob, the door opens so Ashley can easily manoeuvre himself and the chair in and out of his home.

Thanking the Foundation Chloe said: ‘“Ashley is obviously thrilled and has asked me to pass on his immeasurable gratitude to all involved in the process.

“Ashley has reiterated how life-changing this is: the new chair enables him to move freely around the house and go to the local park/shop/pub. It also means he can take himself to and from appointments at the local hospital which is a 10 minute ride away in on the new chair so he doesn’t have to wait (sometimes up to six hours) for an NHS car to take him home.

“He said he’d got so used to shuffling round using his leg to move his wheelchair that he hadn’t quite realised how difficult his life had become: having the power-assisted chair is just amazing and makes everything so easy.

“The first thing he wanted to do with his new found freedom was to treat his friend, who’s been helping care for him, to a Sunday lunch.

“I also wanted to say thank you again to the Axis Foundation for the opportunity to change someone’s life and I hope the case study on this encourages other members of staff to apply.”

 

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Care

Brenda Gains Better Quality of Life

December 8, 2021By

Our donation provides a wet room – plus privacy, dignity, independence and better quality of life for Brenda

As a consequence of Brenda’s major health issues, she is unable to bathe without assistance. Lifting her legs into the bath causes her too much pain. But thanks to the Foundation’s donation of £6,280, Brenda now has a wet room which will give her the privacy and independence she needs.

“I would like to thank everyone who was involved at Axis that has made this happen. You have made one very happy woman. This has meant so much to me and I appreciate all the hard work that has gone into making my wet room just so I can have a bit of dignity and independence brought back into my life. I would just like to thank Mark, Anthony and Matt for all of their hard work in making my wet room a reality. They have worked so hard to make my life so much easier. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart” – Brenda

Brenda’s Story

Two months following Brenda’s 50th Birthday in 2011 she fell ill with flu-like symptoms. Within a month she was unable to walk without the aid of a walking stick. Soon she had to use a walking frame, and her mobility continued to deteriorate so she was unable to leave the house alone or without the aid of a wheelchair/electric scooter. She couldn’t continue at her job in a pharmaceutical factory because walking aids are not allowed on the factory floor.

Brenda has been through years of rigorous tests. But sadly her condition continues to deteriorate with no official diagnosis. She now has limited movement in her  body and is constantly in pain, taking multiple medications.

There is very little anyone can do to make Brenda’s condition any better at the moment. Bbut there are ways of improving her quality of life dramatically. We all take jumping in the shower for granted. But for Brenda, installing a new wet room, thanks to the Foundation, has given her some  independence and most importantly restored her dignity and given her a better quality of life generally too.

Lorrae Mannering, Commercial Manager here at Axis, asked the Axis Foundation to help her aunt Brenda and we were delighted to support her application.

 

 

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Care

MS Therapy Centre (NW)

December 8, 2021By

Mobility for MS Sufferers – and their carers too – at MS Therapy Centre

Our donation of £3,173 helped MS Therapy Centre (NW) purchase a new Raizer II Chair. The Raizer II emergency lifting chair helps fallen people get back on their feet with ease. And, as it only needs one person to work it, the specialist chair helps the carers at the Centre too.

“People like you at the Axis Foundation mean we can provide the best for all our members and give them peace of mind. If someone should fall in our centre we have the equipment to safely get them up. Thank you Axis Foundation for the donation. It means the world to all of us here at the MS Therapy Centre (NW)” –  Sean Halsall Fundraiser

More about our donation

Lockdowns as a result of the Pandemic mean that MS Therapy Centre members have not been active for the past 12 months. Some have become physically unstable. Our donation will provide immediate and long term  support to members particularly after a fall – and carers too.

More about the MS Therapy Centre

Established in 2004, the MS Therapy Centre (NW) provides a wide range of therapies and services in a caring and supporting environment to enrich the lives of their 400 members and to limit the effects of MS on sufferers.

And there’s more here

 

 

 

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Accessible platform with wheelchair users fishing BDAADisability

British Disabled Angling Association

April 8, 2021By

Helping disabled people enjoy fishing

In three separate donations, the Axis Foundation has helped The British Disabled Angling Association (BDAA) offer fishing opportunities to disabled children, young people and adults across the Midlands.

“The British Disabled Angling Association (BDAA) is deeply grateful for your previous support, which helped us provide 20 specially adapted button controlled fishing reels for people of all ages with disabilities. This helped them to take up fishing for the first time or get back into fishing after a life changing event, creating inclusive fishing opportunities for all. Your generosity has made a real difference, and we have seen how fishing can truly be life-changing” – Terry Moseley, President (2026)

Electric reels

In 2023, we donated £5597 to purchase 20 electric reels (fishing reels and rod harnesses) as part of the adaptive equipment BDAA requires to deliver their projects.

“The British Disabled Angling Association (BDAA)would like to say a huge thank you for the generosity of the Axis Foundation’s latest donation of £5597. This has allowed the BDAA charity to purchase 20 specially adapted motorised touch button controlled fishing reels for people of all ages with disabilities to take up fishing for the first time or get back into fishing after a life changing event. These newly developed reels can be operated using only one hand making them ideal for stroke survivors and people with coordination difficulties.

“The BDAA’s overall aim is to enable disabled individuals to participate fully in angling, removing barriers and providing the necessary support and equipment to ensure a positive fishing experience. Your donation will go a long way in ensuring that individuals have the necessary tools to participate” – Troy Chadwick, BDAA Operations Manager

Fishing platforms

BDAA points out that many mobility and visually-impaired people have difficulties getting near the water’s edge. So, our earlier (2021) donation of £3,450 helped fund the creation and installation of an approved, bespoke, accessible group fishing platform.

“The Trustees and I would like to offer a huge thank you for the generosity of the Axis Foundation. Your grant has allowed us to provide accessible fishing platforms ensuring disabled people will be safe when fishing. The accessible fishing platforms with safety features help individuals and groups like our successful Disabilities Schools or Heroes Veterans.Your grant has ensured that the public can see first-hand the commitment we place on design and accessibility allowing more disabled children to participate alongside non-disabled people helping bridge social divides. We could not do this without the generosity of the Axis Foundation” –  Terry Moseley, Founder, BDAA

Junior Schools Fishing Project

Our 2020 donation of £3,320 helped BDAA develop their BDAA Junior Schools Fishing Project This is the first scheme of its kind in the UK and will help hundreds of disabled children and young people benefit from fishing.

“The Junior School’s disability project has been a long-time milestone for the BDAA. Having such great support and generosity from the Axis Foundation has made this ambition a reality. Hundreds of children, teachers and families have benefited directly from this pilot project and we hope they will continue enjoying fishing in adult life. The funding has provided essential training for teachers and volunteers, as well as clothing, adaptive fishing equipment, transport costs and independence for the students. They now have an additional skill they never knew they could achieve through fishing” – BDAA founder Terry Moseley

More about BDAA

BDAA offers fishing opportunities for disabled children, young people and adults across the Midlands. Angling helps improve the health and wellbeing of many disabled people. The sport encourages access to outdoor activities and, most importantly, offers the chance to socialise with others in the local community. Angling can change the lives of disabled people. BDAA offers inclusive fishing opportunities to disabled people of all ages and disability. And the charity provides adapted equipment, disabled platforms and access, services, information, support and practical advice on all issues encompassing angling.

 “I love to be outside. I can now hold a rod all by myself and have also learned how to be a good fisherman. I like to go fishing with my friends, and I think I will be a really good fisherman when I’m bigger” – Harry Bowen, Penn Hall School fishing club

There’s more about BDAA here.

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