Donations

UK Reads

January 5, 2023By

Our donation helps break illiteracy cycle and gives children a foundation for success.

UK Reads is the World Literacy Foundation’s (WLF) response to the literacy crisis facing children in the UK. Ultimately, the charity aims to put reading in the heart of the home understanding the power of literacy and the impact it can have on life outcomes.

The Axis  Foundation was delighted to donate £3,330 to UK Reads’ Manchester programme specifically helping provide free books to 500 children; 500 literacy resource packs to engage children and parents; two Story Box workshops for ten families plus Story Box resources including books, props and writing material; and their Pen Pals Project which connects children from classrooms across the UK and sub-Saharan Africa via World Literacy Foundation partner schools.

“On behalf of the team at UK Reads, I would like to thank Axis Foundation for their generous contribution to our programme.  The early years of a child’s life can shape their future; the donation will inspire children and their caregivers to prioritise reading, giving them a foundation for success in their education and beyond.  We are incredibly grateful for Axis Foundation’s willingness to champion our cause and for aiding us to continue to break the illiteracy cycle in Manchester’s most disadvantaged families.” – Naomi Nwagboso,Trust and Foundations Manager

More about UK Reads

Before COVID-19, 380,000 children did not own a single book, and 1 in 5 struggled to read or write.  The most recent survey suggested 413,000 UK children now do not own a book. Since launching in November 2020, UK Reads has supported over 37,000 children living in disadvantaged circumstances with free books, bespoke literacy resources, access to a global Pen Pal Project and exciting ‘Story Box’ workshops that engage the whole family.

There’s more here

READ MORE
Charity Ball

Foundation Charity Ball raises £430,000

December 15, 2022By

Thanks to the generosity of our guests – suppliers, subcontractors and supporters – our 16th Axis Foundation Charity Ball raised £215,000 for our charity partner Demelza and the Axis Foundation.

And this year, our parent company, Axis Europe, match-funded the amount raised at the ball – so a further £430,000 will be available for the small, local and impactful causes the Foundation supports including Demelza. At the heart of our celebrations was the fact that our Foundation has donated £2m in our history of giving. And now we’re planning how to give away the next million! Without the generous support of the following people at our ball, we could not have raised this record-breaking amount!

Here’s the Programme we produced for the night, and find our full photo album here!

A big thank you to our supporters:

 

A to Z Stone Repairs Ltd
A&B Electrical Contractors Ltd
Abdelmalik Hamli
AC Davis Electrical
Adeva Home Improvements Ltd
AkzoNobel
Alandale Group
ASA Scaffolding Ltd
AstonLark
Avanza
Barwin
Baxi
BG Building
BMB Drylining Ltd
Brewers
Britelite Windows Ltd
The Bute Group
Butler & Young Services Ltd
BVL Scaffolding Co Ltd
City Plumbing
CM Electrical Midlands
Crown Paints
David Moss
Decor Repair Services Ltd
Dimetrix Electrical Services
Enigma Security Solutions Ltd
DM Jones
DMD Contracts

Estec Engineering
DMD Installation
DMG Office Ltd
Dynes Motor Group
Example Recruitment Group Ltd
Grant Thornton
Excel Painting Contractors
Exterior Plas
FFT
Five Point Recruitment
Genesis Incorporated
Gertski Wealth Management
Howells
Group 1
Horizon Installation Ltd
Inner City Fabrications
Integral Environmental Solutions Ltd
Kent Supreme Heating
Intex Facades Ltd
J & S Heating
J&D Pallets
LMP Installations
London Drainage Facilities
M&R Building & Landscaping Ltd
Martin Arnold
Masons Scaffolding
Mastacab
Meru Services

Miranda
Moron Services Ltd
Multifleet Vehicle Management
The Pump Practitioners Ltd
Quayside Office Furniture
Peter Varney Associates Ltd
Pioneer Site Services Ltd
Potter Raper
Premier Roofing and Construction
RBC Scaffolding
Resideo Honeywell Home
Rich Demolition
Roofmasters Watford Ltd
Russell Trew
Geoff Shreeves
SLK
Stuart Fenn Property Services Ltd
Travis Perkins
Symphony Windows Ltd
Thermoserv Ltd
TW Drainage
UK Roofing Specialist Ltd Ultimate Services
Ultimate Access Solutions
Universal Roofing Ltd
VH Electrical (UK) Ltd
Vinyl Creations Ltd
Vivbuild Ltd
Vodafone
Warrens Roofing
Your Image

 

To our Entertainers and Auctioneer

  • Charles Hanson – Auctioneer
  • Kevin Reynolds – Manager of Soul Connection, pianist Alex Bennett and singer Roy Hamilton
  • Steve Sutherland – our MC

To those who sponsored the evening

  • Masons Scaffolding who generously sponsored our band Soul Connection
  • London Drainage who generously sponsored our champagne reception
  • Example Recruitment Group Ltd who generously sponsored our pianist Alex Bennett
  • BG Building who generously sponsored our singer Roy Hamilton
  • Five Point Recruitment who generously sponsored our photographer Amit Champaneria

To our Patron Alan Curbishley and all the Trustees of the Axis Foundation

READ MORE
Community

Beyond The Wall 

December 5, 2022By

Our donation increases accessibility in community gardens

Beyond The Wall is a two-acre walled garden in Suffolk for people with additional needs ranging from physical or learning disabilities to mental health conditions or low self-esteem.

The Axis Foundation donated £5,000 to help Beyond the Wall to enable the charity to grow and develop their kitchen garden, providing accessible paths, raised beds and a communal sun shade area.

“The clients and staff at Beyond The Wall are absolutely thrilled to have received a grant from the Axis Foundation. The grant will help us achieve so much in the coming months, which will benefit all of our current clients as well as future proof the garden for future clients. Without this grant, we would not be able to achieve so many of our plans to make the garden more inclusive and accessible for all of our users” – Rozelle Bettesworth, Centre Manager

The raised beds will enable more clients to access the garden independently and with greater ease. The kitchen garden provides Beyond The Wall’s clients with the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetable to cook with, take home and share with families and friends and also sell at markets to generate further funds for the charity.

There’s more about Beyond the Wall here

READ MORE
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

READ MORE
Care

Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk

December 1, 2022By

We purchase a vital defibrillator providing independence and confidence for MS Centre users

Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk aims to provide independence to all those with Multiple Sclerosis and all other neurological conditions.

The Axis Foundation’s donation of £1,500 will purchase a defibrillator for centre users: most have MS, are vulnerable or at risk. Whilst everyone benefits from the sessions here, purchasing a defibrillator will mean the centre can further fulfil their duty of care by minimising risk and increasing safety for users. Our grant will also provide training for staff in using the defibrillator.

“This Defib will make a huge difference to us, allowing vulnerable centre users feel confident in our care knowing there is a team and equipment available in the event of any emergency. This also makes the team at the centre feel confident that they can deal with possible situations and have the right equipment. We would like to say thank you too the Axis foundation for your support over the years” – Nick Petch, Volunteer Fundraiser

Our donations

This is our second donation to Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk. In 2019 we donated £2,480 to help install a ramp entrance to the front of the centre which is housed in an old air traffic control tower.

More about Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk

The centre offers  appropriate therapies and services including physiotherapy, yoga, Pilates, reflexology and podiatry to 400 users. There’s more about their work here 

READ MORE
Demelza

Climbing Kilimanjaro for Demelza

November 4, 2022By

Axis’ Walter Shave recently climbed Mount Kilimanjaro raising a fantastic £2,500 for Demelza and First Halesworth Scout Group.

The two-week expedition, which was completely self-funded by the team, took just over two weeks to complete and created memories to last a lifetime.

Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the African continent’s highest peak at 5895m (19,340ft) and is the highest free-standing mountain above sea level worldwide.

The team started off by climbing up two smaller peaks nearby to acclimatise to the altitudes. And then it was time for the main event! The climb up Mt Kilimanjaro started after additional training in the rainforest.  Every day Wally and his team climbed a total of 1000m which is the equivalent of Mount Snowdon!

On the summit day, they woke up at 1am to reach the top just in time for sunrise. Wally reports: “We noticed that we were struggling a lot to physically move due to the lack of oxygen at that altitude, our average speed was 1.2km per hour! It was hard to believe that our oxygen levels went down to an astonishing 70%. When you are at sea level, if your oxygen levels go down to 92% you need to be rushed to A&E! The last 250m we walked through glaciers to reach the summit which were incredible: planes were flying below us! Once we reached the summit it was a feeling of such achievement and joy surrounded by amazing views and a beautiful sunrise, we will cherish that moment for our lifetime!”

For his scout group, First Halesworth Scout Group, the money raised will help fund an annual scout trip to Scotland or Switzerland for less fortunate members. For Demelza, the money will help to ensure every child and young person who has a serious or terminal condition receives the care and attention they need to live the most fulfilling life they can.

“Young people are our future! If I can make a small but meaningful contribution to both these fantastic organisations by giving up some of my time and sweat, then it’s a win win all round.”

Read more about our precious partnership with Demelza here.

And there’s more about how we helped First Halesworth Scouts here

READ MORE
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

READ MORE
Care

The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust

September 16, 2022By

We help develop new app for cancer patients

The Axis Foundation donated £10,000 to help The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust develop a brand-new app, the first of its kind in the UK, designed and created to help young cancer patients, families and clinical care teams.

‘As a charity we a have a tireless commitment to the oncology communities we serve. This technology-driven healthcare solution represents a hugely exciting step forward in how cancer patients and families are supported. We are delighted that the Axis Foundation shares our values and has invested in the development of this innovative app which is set to make a huge impact across the country. I would like to share heart-felt thanks on behalf of the team at the Trust and the beneficiaries of this project” – Michael Douglas, Charity founder and Trustee

“The commencement of the development phase would not have been possible without your support and the
process is yielding fantastic results working in collaboration with patients, families, technology and clinical
specialists. We are so grateful to work with like-minded funders such as yourselves who share our commitment to
this cause” – Natalie Reilly, Trustee

Our App will include:

• Clinical information about specific cancer diagnoses, treatment, procedures
• Explanations about clinical care teams/ surroundings
• Practical tips, advice, do’s and don’ts for caring for young patients
• Real life testimonials from children/ families
• Links to physical/ digital support groups, charities, organisations
• Research opportunities, clinical trials, funding

Aggregating critical up-to-date clinical information the app gives young cancer patients, families and clinical care teams access to comprehensive, high quality, evidence-based education resources direct to a phone or tablet.

It will assist families with decision-making, advance preparation for treatment, orientation around processes and care pathways and connection to support networks and resources within and beyond the NHS.

The team creating the app comprises experts in technology and software development, clinical care and Childhood Cancer Research, educational content creators, videographers and animators all working in close collaboration with hospital Trusts and Children’s Cancer Research specialists.

More about The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust

The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust supports Paediatric Oncology communities and local Cancer and Leukaemia services across London and the South East. They work in collaboration with the NHS from Princess Royal University Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich to King’s College Hospital, Guy’s Hospital and Croydon University Hospital to make vital improvements to patient care. Their goal is to allay information overwhelm, alleviate stress and feelings of isolation, optimise patient experience and improve health outcomes for patients. There’s more here

READ MORE
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.”

 

READ MORE
two young people reading togetherDonations

Friends of West Wimbledon Trust

July 26, 2022By

We help design library space for reading and storytelling

Friends of West Wimbledon Trust (FOWW) want to create a new, inclusive, child-friendly library space that will inspire a love of reading and storytelling.

When the Friends applied to the Axis Foundation for help, we were delighted to donate £1,000 to the project.

“We can’t thank the Axis Foundation enough for donating £1000 towards our library project. The transformation of the previously outdated space into an inviting, resource-based library for children to read, research and socialise, will be hugely appreciated by the children and staff. Thanks to the Axis Foundation, generous supporters within our school community and running various events, we are thrilled to announce that we have raised enough for the project to go ahead this summer! We can’t wait to share pictures once the new library is finished in September” – Susan Edwards, fundraiser, FOWW

The Axis Foundation’s grant will support the re-design of the library space as well as purchase flexi-bookcases, a picturebook unit, hideyhole seat, picturebook tunnel, reading den and tent as well as comfortable seating and storage areas.

The newly designed space will feature cosy areas for quiet reading, a variety of soft seating and Me-To-You display boards for book recommendations. The furniture will create defined fiction, non-fiction, and picture book areas. The shelving and the furniture ensure books face out to encourage children to choose books independently and so broaden their reading choices.

Diverse users of West Wimbledon Primary School’s (WWPS) library space include children with autism. Within the Autism Base at the school, the pupils all have specific needs: the new contemplative and calm environment will specifically help them to engage with their reading.

More about FOWW

FOWW is a charity run by the parents and supported by the teachers, staff and governors of West Wimbledon Primary School in the London Borough of Merton.  More here

READ MORE