Welcome to Axis Foundation, the charitable arm of Axis.

therapy

Down Syndrome Cheshire

July 25, 2024By Axis Foundation

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

women victims of domestic abuse faces away from camera tattoo on back

Care

Woman’s Trust

December 9, 2019By Axis Foundation

Pioneering support for women victims of domestic abuse

Our donation of £3,350 to specialist mental health charity Woman’s Trust will pioneer new group therapy sessions for women victims of domestic abuse.

“We know that some of the biggest issues women victims of domestic abuse have to contend with are around isolation. Group sessions allow them the opportunity to connect with other survivors. So they create networks through interaction. They receive encouragement, support, and empathy in a non-judgemental environment. And many of the women go on to form lasting friendships. Women value the support from each other, which differs to the support received from agencies, families or friends. It provides the potential for a lasting resolution” – CEO Heidi Riedel

COVID-19 update from Woman’s Trust

Women arriving at Woman’s Trust report increased/worsened abuse

48% report suffering depression; 44% have suicidal thoughts; 98% report high stress/anxiety (all percentages are higher than pre-pandemic)
65% of women reported 5+ types of abuse whereas before, 46% reported 5+.
There are increases in specific types, including sexual abuse (from 29% to 40%) and technological abuse (from 15% to 30%)

In addition, many women are stuck with court cases going nowhere and in unsuitable/unsafe temporary accommodation as all services are halted or delayed due to the pandemic.

“Women are telling us that they were struggling with the idea of their therapy ending with us. We therefore decided to also allow particularly vulnerable and at risk women to attend the group so that they may lengthen their time at Woman’s Trust and benefit from wraparound support that would increase the positive outcomes achieved and enable them to better cope once they had left our service. We ran the two groups using Zoom (rather than face-to-face, due to Covid-19 restrictions)” – CEO Heidi Riedel

More about Woman’s Trust

Woman’s Trust is a specialist mental health charity providing free counselling and therapy for women who experience domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is the single largest cause of depression in women across the UK. It has links to drug misuse as well as addiction and other mental health conditions.

The Woman’s Trust has supported more than 14,500 women and provided the equivalent of over £4.5m in vital mental health care for survivors. Their counselling and workshop therapy sessions give vulnerable women a chance to recover and deliver a long-term, positive impact on their mental health.

Abuse victim – In her own words

“I have been in domestic violence relationships for many years and l just bore it. But two years ago I had enough and l left. I do still have a sad days and flashbacks of the events, but l feel much stronger as an individual. I don’t have to ask a permission to do something as l had to before. I am free woman, who is just getting better in getting to know herself again. It is amazing. Woman’s Trust gave me the best support and positive energy to fight for myself and my child.”

To find out more, visit www.womanstrust.org.uk.

Gardening tools at Bright Star Welllbeing to promote good mental health

Community

Bright Star Wellbeing

February 12, 2018By Axis Foundation

Promoting good mental health and social inclusion

Bright Star Wellbeing is a charity which helps people with mental illness and also raises public awareness of mental health issues.

The volunteers here work with local people who may feel isolated due to disability, race, ethnicity or mental health. By offering recreational therapeutic activities, the charity aims to help them to mix within society and their local community – and so promote good mental health and wellbeing as well as bring about an end to their loneliness and isolation.

The clients at Bright Star Wellbeing had expressed a desire to form a gardening group and so be able to plant flowers in memory of one of their members who had recently died. And so our donation of £1,000 made in 2017 purchased gardening equipment and plants so they could realise their dream.

“We are so thankful to have received this donation as it means that the clients will be able to run their own therapeutic gardening group and honour the memory of their friend. This will assist us greatly in maintaining our groups and enabling us to support assist and empower those in need within the local community – to include all and exclude none” – Christine Pearce, CEO