graphic of axis people, golfer, couple and bag of money surrounding large tenNews

Foundation History: forever at the heart of the community

April 18, 2018By

When John and Tim Hayes formed property business Axis in 1986, the brothers also created Axis’ Core Values. Axis Core Value Number Six is A community we contribute to will welcome and value us. This was the  the cornerstone of what was to become the Axis Foundation – the heart of the community.

 

The Axis spirit

From very early days, the newly-fledged Axis actively gave back to the local communities where the business operated. Everyone who worked at Axis embraced the Core Values of the Company, particularly Core Value Number Six.

A spirit of giving ran through the company; fundraising activities were resourceful, imaginative – and successful – focusing on helping individuals and causes who could make a difference to local lives.

 

The Foundation stones

As CEO John says: “I set the Foundation up to formalise and capture all the elements of giving that already existed across the company, particularly giving back in the communities where we were working.”

John Hayes created the Axis Foundation in 2009; donations started formally in 2010.

The motto? To be “at the heart of the community”.

Perks of growth mean giving more

In the early days of the business, the family’s focus was clearly on developing a strong and successful business. Fast Forward to today, with an annual turnover of over £8m and with over 800+ people working for their company, brothers John and Tim Hayes can say that their business has indeed flourished.

And one of their greatest perks of growth and success has been their continued ability to support individuals and causes in the local communities where their business operates.

In 2019, the award-winning Foundation celebrates its tenth birthday; plus the fact it has donated more than £1.3m to over 170 small, local and impactful causes.

This money is raised through staff initiatives and fundraising activities, an annual corporate donation, plus generous support from clients at calendar highlights the Axis Charity Golf Day and the Axis Foundation Charity Ball.

Still at the heart of the community

In the Midlands, Thamesmead, Croydon, Cardiff, Liverpool and Kent as well as throughout London, for example, we work on long-term, renewed contracts with housing providers.

Investing in our local communities, we are able to source materials through local supply chains and offer employment and apprenticeships to young people.

We know that money cannot buy happiness per se, but on top of this community investment, the Foundation’s donations to small, impactful and local causes and individuals in these geographical areas, have brought many a smile to local faces!

The Axis Foundation is still “the heart of the community” – just as we were  in 2009!.

 

“Giving back is in our DNA. We’ve tried to focus on the areas where we’re active by supporting small and meaningful causes rather than big and grandiose ones. Everybody at Axis gets involved in one way or another through volunteering or fundraising” – Axis Foundation Trustee/Axis Chief Executive John Hayes

“Axis has always had a sense of social responsibility. The Foundation supports local causes that offer a direct benefit to those in need of a hand up, rather than a hand out” – Axis Foundation Chairman, Peter Varney

“The work of the Foundation is very important to us and I’m very thankful to everyone who contributes to its work. Through the efforts, enthusiasm, commitment and generosity of all our people, and our clients too, we can really make a difference” – Axis Foundation Trustee Sandie Ryan

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Transporting children with disabilities in donated carDisability

Lifelong Family Links

April 12, 2018By

Giving transport for children with disabilities

Lifelong Family Links provides short breaks and stimulating outings for children and young people with medium to severe disabilities. These include Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Special Educational Needs and a range of physical and sensory disabilities. They give lifts to 560 young people, enabling them to lead fuller and more stimulating lives.

Our donation of £3,000 helped to purchase a new car for the charity. The car is wheelchair accessible and will transport the young people to social activities, family outings, swim clubs and more.

“It’s not fair that these children are socially disadvantaged without access to the same leisure or transport experiences as other young people. We hope that this donation will provide enjoyable experiences for the children in a safe and comfortable environment with professional carers” – Joe Ibrahim, Axis Foundation Trustee

Our Previous Support

In 2012, the Foundation donated £2,500 to Lifelong Family Links’  summer activity programme. The grant covered the cost of mini-bus transport, carer support and sporting activities including swimming, wall-climbing, football and horse riding. These activities are otherwise inaccessible to the children and their families due to the extra support they require.

“The LFL is extremely grateful for the Axis Foundation’s support. Without funding, the Summer playscheme for these disabled children simply couldn’t happen. Then these young people, especially those with severe autism and severe disabilities, would most likely be sitting at home for the duration of the summer holidays because it is a struggle for their parents to take them out” – Lambeth Family Link’s Marva Trenton.

More About Lifelong Family Links

Lifelong Family Links was initially set up in 1982 to support children with disabilities and their parents in the Lambeth area. They now run afterschool clubs, holiday play schemes, a befriending service, an allotment gardening project and a Saturday club for over 200 disabled children/young people.

 

 

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Child touches interactive wall in sensory room at Mapledown SchoolDonations

Mapledown School

April 12, 2018By

Providing immersive sensory room for children with Special Educational Needs

The Axis Foundation granted £3,000 to Mapledown School, helping to fund a sensory room. This is an immersive environment that helps children to learn and captures their imaginations. It is highly interactive. Students touch imagery projected onto the walls which emits a response, like bubbles appearing in a virtual aquarium or stars in the night sky. The room also features an Eye Gaze station where students can play educational games with their eye movements, which are tracked using a detector.

Our donation paid for ceiling work that enabled projectors and an interactive music system to be installed and also purchased an APPlicator device that allows students who are unable to use their hands to interact with a tablet.

“We are grateful for the generous donation of the Axis Foundation which has provided more opportunities for our students to learn and explore through lessons and recreation” – Daniel Green, Mapledown School

More about Mapledown

Some of Mapledown School’s pupils have sensory impairments, physical difficulties or challenging behaviour. Therefore, the school’s resources include a multi-sensory room, a hydrotherapy pool, a soft play room and a fully equipped gym. This ensures that every child receives the support they need. Friends of Mapledown is a registered charity that helps to raise money for the school’s specialist equipment, which is usually very expensive by nature. The charity is formed of a small group of teachers and parents that also contribute towards gifts for the children and extracurricular activities where they can.

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Children enjoy physiotherapy swimming lesson at Waterwings swimming club.Donations

Waterwings

April 12, 2018By

Swimming classes for children with disability

Waterwings is a fully accessible swimming club that provides occupational therapy for children with physical and learning disabilities. It also offers hydrotherapy.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £3,600 will pay for the use of the school pool, a lifeguard cover and a hydrotherapy trained physiotherapist for a year.

“This funding is essential for the running of Waterwings. Without it we would not be able to provide vital, life enhancing therapy and play for these wonderful children. This type of facility is not available anywhere else locally and we thank Axis Foundation so much for helping us to ensure it continues” – Tracy Smith, Fundraiser

More About Waterwings

Waterwings is the only swimming club in St Leonards on Sea that provides fully accessible swimming lessons, occupational therapy and hydrotherapy. Sessions take place at St Mary’s School, Bexhill where the school pool is specifically designed for children with special needs. It has a hoist, changing areas for children with physical disabilities and accessible car parking for carers and parents.

Waterwings’ children have a range of disabilities: Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, heart problems, developmental delay, Downs Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, learning disabilities or autism. Whilst some children can walk with support and others are wheelchair dependent, they all have difficulty in getting into the water and need assistance or hoisting. Local facilities are in the main unsuitable and, importantly, unsafe, because of overcrowding, lack of hoists and the pools’ temperature.

It is well documented that children with physical disabilities benefit from regular targeted occupational therapy. Hydrotherapy (no longer available through the NHS) helps with bone and muscle development. It also provides relief from muscle spasm and teaches patterns of movement that are vital for posture, sitting, standing and walking.

 

 

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Stepney Scouts and scout leaders kayak down river.Donations

Stepney Scouts

April 9, 2018By

Funding for scout group enourages young people in outdoor activities

The 9th Stepney Scout Group wanted to help local youngsters engage in more outdoors activities like kayaking and canoeing on the local canals and rivers. Local sports facilities were proving expensive for the group and their families.

The Axis Foundation donated £4,500 to fund the scout group; they’ve matched this sum. The money will be used to purchase kayaks and all the associated equipment and safety aids.

Our funding for the scout group will mean that young people can set out on the local waterways of East London in their kayaks, enabling them to gain their “Time on the Water” and “Paddle Sports” badges. The lasting impact of our donation will be the skills and bonds that these experiences will form for the youngsters whilst they are on the water.

The The 9th Stepney Scout Group of 65 young people aged 8 to 18, based in Tower Hamlets, East London, is run by volunteers.

“Joining in the activities with the group is fun, we get to learn new skills that we wouldn’t get from school. I enjoy taking park in kayaking and raft building. I can’t wait for the summer!” Julia (13 Years Old).

“I can’t believe that the leaders have been able to get our own boats, now we can spend more time on the water” Carlos (11 Years Old)

 

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