Disability

Axis Employee helps deaf children and their families

April 24, 2023By

Axis QS helps deaf children with Foundation grant

Axis’ Jocelyn Tritton, a Trainee Quantity Surveyor working on our Croydon contract, supports The Dorset Deaf Children’s Society (DDCS) – and applied to the Foundation on their behalf.

The Axis Foundation’s grant of £3274.50 made to DDCS on behalf of Jocelyn will buy 150 Phonak Junior paediatric hearing aid care kits. The kits will help deaf children in Dorset for years to come by teaching and enabling them to maintain their hearing aids.

Jocelyn is passionate about helping the hearing-impaired lead a normal life. This is because Jocelyn’s mum is profoundly deaf, which stems from a horse-riding accident at a young age. Jocelyn’s family started learning British Sign Language last year to better include his mum in family life. He was overjoyed by how much communication improved; and this inspired him to help other families with deaf members to learn BSL too.

Thanking the Foundation Jocelyn said: “Growing up it was always a struggle to communicate with mum, who has 30% hearing in her left ear and near zero in her right, but I couldn’t see how things would ever change. Then the family discovered BSL and, all of a sudden, we could hold normal conversations! I wanted to help out other families with hearing-impaired members and raising funds for the small yet impactful DDCS by running a marathon seemed perfect. Overall, I’m delighted the Axis Foundation agreed to donate over £3000 to purchase hearing aid care kits!”

Jocelyn additionally ran the Milton Keynes Marathon raising £6222 for DDCS!

“We cannot thank Jocelyn enough for the work and effort he is putting in to raise money for our deaf children. We are a small local charity run by volunteers and without the support of people like Jocelyn we could not continue to support the deaf children and their families, providing them with somewhere to go to meet and make friends with children just like themselves. The money Jocelyn is raising is so important for us and we are very grateful’ – Shirley Sorbie, DCSS

More about DDCS

DDCS is an all-volunteer charity which helps children with mild to profound deafness by providing them with hearing equipment and BSL grants. DDCS events connect deaf families, including them in a community which understands their struggles, and serves as an important point of contact where families with deaf children can receive advice, as well as talk to and support each other. There’s more here

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Disability

Bolton Deaf Society

April 24, 2023By

Protecting deaf people from scams

Bolton Deaf Society provides an accessible information and advocacy service for deaf and deafened people primarily in Bolton and surrounding areas.

The Axis Foundation has donated £3,500 to Bolton Deaf Society to help protect deaf and deafened people from scams. This project which will benefit deaf people and professionals working with deaf people across the UK, will include training dedicated Scambassadors and the production of e-materials and webinars.

“Our Deaf-inclusive scams awareness work ensures that deaf people in all their diversity are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves from scams. We are super grateful for the Axis Foundation’s support – John Hesketh CEO

More about Bolton Deaf Society

A full range of services includes translating documentation to BSL, completing forms, making telephone calls and appointments, booking Interpreters, preparing benefit appeals, pursuing help with legal costs, and providing support for training and employment. The society additionally supports social groups including Darby and Joan and a choir and delivers Deaf/Interpreter Awareness and BSL training to public sector service providers, and Deaf Inclusive Employment courses to employers.

 

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Disability

Sailability at Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club

April 24, 2023By

Our donation brings enjoyment of sailing to people with disability

Sailability at Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club Ltd gives all local people with a disability across East Sussex the opportunity to sail, to gain confidence on the water and develop new skills, so improving mental and physical health and wellbeing. They offer accessibility to sailing and boating for those with a disability and 20% of their participants are wheelchair users

The Axis Foundation’s donation of  £9,800 means Sailability can purchase a new specially-designed Hansa dinghy so a sailor can take those with a disability out on the water.

“A new dinghy will help us offer a better experience to participants, to grow as a group, meet the increasing demand for sailing and thus offer more participants with disabilities the opportunity to experience sailing and its many benefits”  – Chris Turner, Sailability Lead

More about Sailability

Sailability (a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) initiative) was founded at Newhaven and Seaford in 2021 and last year helped 32 participants over 124 sessions enjoy the benefits of sailing. This number is growing. They operate within Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club Ltd (not for profit), a registered Sailability Centre, as part of their RYA Training Centre. Their boats are in full use for much of the year, sailing on an inland lake at Piddinghoe East Sussex.
There’s more here 

 

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Disability

Axis employee applies to Foundation to help resident with MS

April 24, 2023By

Helping MS sufferer write her book supporting other sufferers and their carers

Elma Gredelj, Axis Resident Liaison Officer, helped Anna, an MS sufferer, by applying to the Axis Foundation. As a result of Elma’s application, the Axis Foundation donated £300 and purchased a laptop for Anna so she can complete a book about her experiences of MS to help other sufferers and their carers too.

More about Elma’s application

Whilst conducting cyclical works on behalf of our client, Elma met Notting Hill Genesis resident, Anna. Anna wants to write a book to support others who suffer from MS. But as she was unable to access a laptop, Anna was writing it out by hand.

Elma tells the story of their friendship here:

“I met Anna whilst conducting window surveys for the Notting Hill Genesis contract. Once I got speaking with Anna it felt like we knew each other for years. I was very moved by her life story. She shared her positive and negative experiences of being a young lady with MS. She had so many goals that she wanted to accomplish but was very limited due to not having the facilities to do so. One of her main dreams was to write a book to raise awareness for MS. By having limited facilities to do this she has struggled to progress further in this.

“I felt like I couldn’t walk away from that property without trying to help this young lady and reward her for the confidence and strength she has shown to open up to me and share her heart-breaking experiences.

“I contacted the Axis Foundation and applied for a laptop for Anna to help her with her dream of writing a book. This was accepted and I felt so happy for her because I knew how much this would mean to her. I delivered the Laptop to Anna, and she was speechless and felt like ‘her dreams came true’.

“I want to advise anyone working with residents if you find that you can go that extra mile to help someone then please do apply through the Axis Foundation; the sense of reward it made me feel to help someone achieve their lifetime dream especially for such an important topic to raise awareness and knowing this will have an impact for many individuals, it was well worth it !

I wish Anna all the best: and want her to keep her head held high. She’s an inspiration.”

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Donations

The Rowdown Inspire to Aspire Foundation

February 20, 2023By

Helping youngster achieve her Judo dreams

The Rowdown Inspire to Aspire Foundation supports children from low-income Croydon families to pursue their dreams.

The Axis Foundation donated £1,500 towards kit and training fees for 12-year-old Lizzy, who had recently been promoted to the England Development Squad for Judo. A further donation in 2024 of £3,000 part-funded Lizzy’s progression through the Squad.

Thanking the Foundation, Gary Coy, Chair of the Rowdown Trustees, said; “Thank you Axis Foundation for helping Lizzie pursue her ambition. Without our help – and your help – Lizzie’s parents may have had to turn this amazing opportunity down.”

Lizzy’s parents said: “Lizzy’s judo has gone from strength to strength in the last year. This is only made possible because of the sponsorship she receives allowing her to compete across the country and benefit from excellent training by the country’s most talented coaches. We are grateful for all the help you offer in this exciting journey for Lizzy.”

Being part of a national development squad at such a young age will give Lizzy real potential to reach Olympic or Commonwealth standard and represent her country in Judo. And she is already off to a flying start! In February 2023 Lizzy entered the High Wycombe Green belts and under championship, fighting in the under 48kg category (a new weight group for her). She won all of her four fights with maximum points to take Gold. Next up is the English Open where she will be competing as the British Silver Medallist.

 

More about Rowdown

Rowdown supports gifted children in New Addington in Croydon by providing funding for 1-2-1 lessons or club membership, equipment and kit; and also for Masterclasses so that groups of children can further their talents in sport, art, drama and dance. They additionally provide a tuition programme for academically able children and offer grants to parents to help with the costs of uniform, school trips and residual fees.
There’s more here

 

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Disability

The Woodland Centre Trust (Camp Mohawk)

January 20, 2023By

Providing work experience for children with cognitive and physical disabilities

Through Camp Mohawk, The Woodland Centre Trust offers secure, supportive and stimulating woodland space to over 1,000 children and young people with a wide range of cognitive and physical disabilities every year.

The Trustees of the Axis Foundation awarded a grant of a grant of £5,000 to The Woodland Centre Trust towards a small cafe/ tuck shop for their ” Working Together” work experience project at Camp Mohawk.

“On behalf of the Trustees and management team of Camp Mohawk I’d like to offer our sincere thanks to the Axis Foundation for your support for children and young people with special needs… The addition of a cafe is going to provide fantastic work experience opportunities for our young people and this fantastic new provision will be beneficial to all our families attending. Many of our children and their famiies have experienced extreme isolation and exclusion during the pandemic. They will benefit tremendously from the inclusive play, social interaction, learning opportunities and support that Camp Mohawk provides” – Charlotte Webb, Fundraising Manager

More about Working Together

For some young people with cognitive and physical disabilities, finding work experience that meets their needs is very difficult so Camp Mohawk creates structured opportunities within its familiar environment. For the first stage of this project they propose to provide customer service work experience by creating a small cafe/tuck shop on site to serve the needs of visitors. The Trustees of the Axis Foundation were delighted to support this project.

More about The Woodland Centre Trust (Camp Mohawk)

Based in Berkshire, The Woodland Centre Trust supports children, young people and families affected by a variety of diagnosed conditions including Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC), Downs Syndrome, sight and/or hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, brain injury, genetic disorders and various other life-limiting inherited, acquired or medical conditions. Whilst the majority of visitors come from  Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and West London, the service is open to all who might benefit from the experience. Schemes include Family Support, Short Breaks, Shared Play and Open Sessions.
In addition, the centre provides:

  • facilities which stimulate co-ordination, communication, socialisation and imagination
  • educational and recreational projects that help equip young people with special needs for eventual independent living
  • support network for young carers whose siblings have special needs
  • support for whole families affected by special needs to reduces stress and isolation and improve quality of life
  • a superb venue for local voluntary disability support groups, special schools and care centres.

There’s more here 

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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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Disability

Incredible Kids

January 19, 2023By

Providing toys and accessible activities for children with additional needs and disabilities

Bristol-based charity Incredible Kids enables children and young people with additional needs and disabilities to make friends, have fun, and play, increasing their mental wellbeing, and improving their confidence and social skills. Parents set up the charity to support each other and help reduce the social isolation typically felt by 72% of families with a disabled child.*

The Axis Foundation donated £1,000 towards purchasing new ‘bright and engaging’ toys and an accessible activity table for approximately 500 children.

“The funding from the Axis Foundation has already transformed our sessions with a new wheelchair-accessible activity table and a whole host of beautiful new toys and activities for the children at Incredible Kids to enjoy. We are so grateful for the opportunity to add new toys for the families that visit us. Thank you Axis!” – Jennie Prewett, Trustee

More about Incredible Kids

Incredible Kids offers support for the whole family in order to reduce feelings of isolation and increase overall mental wellbeing of disabled children, their siblings, and their parents/carers.

In 2019, 600 families accessed Incredible Kids’ services. Numbers of individuals attending have more than doubled since COVID-19 (from 1000 individual members to 2200).Through their own data collection, in-person interviews, and online surveys Incredible Kids show that after attending their sessions:

  • 83% of parents and carers made friends,
  • 76% of disabled children made friends.
  • 89% of families said they no longer feel isolated.

*The Hidden Isolation Report commissioned by Contact a Family states that “72% of families with a disabled child will experience mental ill health such as anxiety, depression or breakdown due to isolation.”

There’s more about their work here

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Community

Hands of Hope

January 18, 2023By

Equipping children to learn hands-on about the the natural environment

Through a number of schemes and activities including biodiversity and food growing programmes, Hands of Hope tackles food poverty, rural isolation and loneliness in Rother, Hastings and West Kent.

The charity told the Axis Foundation: “Many children who engage in our activities arrive on site ill-equipped. We are seeking funding to purchase 20 sets of children’s waterproofs as well as 10 children’s bee suits.”

And so, our Trustees were delighted to donate £1,000 to purchase both waterproofs and bee suits.

“As many schools prepare for a new addition to the national curriculum with the launch of Natural History GCSE in 2025, Hands of Hope are already leading the way in climate and sustainability education with a wide range of activities that offer children and young people hands-on, practical learning about the natural world around them so they can have a greater connection with the natural environment and in turn, play their part in making sure future generations can enjoy a cleaner, safer, greener world.

“The donation from the Axis Foundation is fundamental to supporting these activities and ensuring that the children are equipped for an enjoyable, safe, and educational experience” –  Mandy Doran, Trustee

More about Hands of Hope

Supporting local communities throughout Rother, Hastings and West Kent, Hands of Hope creates positive social connections within diverse groups whilst tackling mental health, isolation, and food-related issues. Since 2020 the number of people engaged in activities at Hope Farm Community Garden has increased with over 300 adults and children benefiting from onsite activities during 2022 as well as 1000s engaged via their Get Growing project regionally. Hands of Hope are restoring and developing a neglected walled kitchen garden and 22 acres of AONB land, creating “Hope Farm Community Garden”, a Soil Association Accredited community garden containing 2 large market gardens, a small heritage orchard with Apiary, a Gill Woodland, 7 ponds and 2 large wildflower meadows. In June 2022 the charity was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Hands of Hope delivers the following practical projects: Helping Hands Lunch Clubs; Men in Sheds; traditional bricklaying training; Bee in Company biodiversity programme; Growing Buddies community gardening; Living History including  Rural Crafts, environmental heritage, conservation skills and market gardening; and Get Growing delivering fresh, in-season produce to local food banks.

There’s more about their work here 

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disadvantaged

Off the Fence

January 11, 2023By

Saving lives of homeless people

Off The Fence supports homeless, vulnerable and socially excluded people in Brighton and Hove in Sussex.

In 2023 the Axis Foundation donated £7,000 to Off the Fence Trust to purchase 200 Vango Atlas Heavyweight sleeping bags for the rough sleepers who use the services of Antifreeze, the charity’s day centre for the homeless, part of an emergency outreach.

“We are so grateful, as are our clients. Until they are housed, each of our clients uses at least two high quality sleeping bags a year, demand fuelled by wear and tear or theft. £7,000 enables us to purchase 200 military quality sleeping bags that will undoubtedly prevent deaths from exposure, illness and the cold through the Winter months. This is helps us meet a significant proportion of our outdoor budget in this area”  – Roy Stannard, Head of Income-Generation and Comms

We followed this up with a further donation of £4,750 to purchase hygiene materials (including toothpaste, shampoo, razors, shaving foam and cleaning products), hot water bottles (for distribution on the street) and waterproof jackets (for warmth and protection in the cold winter).

“The Axis Foundation is bulwark of compassion in an uncertain world” –  Roy Stannard, Head of Income-Generation and Comms

“Thank you for your compassion and generosity. Lives will be saved” –  Jane Leaver, Office Finance and Individual Giving Co-ordinator

More About Off the Fence

Off The Fence Trust works with vulnerable and socially excluded people in the Brighton and Hove area. Over 700 people use Antifreeze, the charity’s day centre for the homeless. Some users (for example if they own a dog,) have elected to remain rough sleepers. In 2021-22 Antifreeze’s services were used 1,775  times. Whilst many rough sleepers can be accommodated in the City’s hotels and B&Bs, this is only a temporary solution, and the numbers are rising steeply.

Off The Fence Trust tackles social and spiritual poverty, and helps members of the community who are facing crisis situations with little or no support. Their priority is to provide a practical, emotional and psychological safety net through three projects:

  • Antifreeze, a day centre for the homeless – part of an emergency outreach to rough sleepers
  • Schools’ programme for 6-18-year-old children
  • Gateway, a women’s centre supporting women in crisis

There’s more about their work here

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