Coronavirus responseNews

Axis Foundation Coronavirus Response

April 7, 2020By

The Coronavirus is having a devastating impact on our community, as well as on the charities and causes who support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

The Axis Foundation’s Trustees would like to reassure our charity partners and those seeking funding that we remain open for new applications and are committed to supporting our communities and the people worst affected by Covid-19.

To ensure this is possible and that the funds we have available are used effectively, to provide maximum long-lasting impact, we are making some temporary changes to our application, review and funding process:

Urgent Funding Applications – Coronavirus Relief

We would like to help the most vulnerable in our community through this time. So we will be prioritising funding applications that can make a long-lasting positive impact in relation to Coronavirus relief efforts.

You can continue to make any funding application, but we will only be dealing with those deemed immediately impactful in relation to Coronavirus relief efforts within our community.

Please note: We only support small, local charities and causes providing impactful front-line community services.

Applications Received (Prior to 31.03.20)

Our Trustees met on the 31.03.20 and reviewed the applications received prior to this date. The applications that met our criteria and that were selected for support will have the funding deferred until further notice – if they do not provide immediate and impactful benefit in relation to Coronavirus relief.

At a future date (to be agreed) these successful application will be re-reviewed to ensure that the charity or cause is still operating and the project or activity is still viable.

Non-Urgent Applications (Received Post March 2020)

All new non-urgent applications will be deferred until after the impacts of Coronavirus have been addressed. All applications received relating to non-urgent activity, will be kept and reviewed at a later date.

Funding Already Granted

Where the Axis Foundation has already provided funding: If you plan to adapt the original purpose or use of this funding due to the impact of Coronavirus or redirect it to relief efforts, please contact the Foundation prior to committing the money.

Coronavirus response

We hope you understand our response to the situation we are all facing and we look forward to being able to reinstate our usual application processes as soon as we can.

Applications

If you would like to apply on the above basis, please click here to access our application form

READ MORE
cheque presentation by the Axis Foundation to Oliver Fisher TrustCare

Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

January 7, 2020By

Supporting a Special Care Baby Unit

Liam and Amy Hayes’ son Benjamin Jeffrey John Hayes was born on Sunday 12 May 2019 and sadly passed away 10 days later.

At The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Medway the doctors and nurses gave Benjamin the very best care they could before he was transferred to Demelza Children’s Hospice.

The Axis Foundation’s annual charity ball in 2019 raised record-breaking sums, with the help of our generous and kind guests, which were shared between our charity partner Demelza and The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Read Benjamin’s story by Liam Hayes here and more about our work with Demelza here

More about The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

In 1983, Dr Oliver Fisher created a Special Care Baby Unit in All Saints Hospital in Kent. The unit then had just two special care cots. Now based in Medway Maritime Hospital, the unit has 36 cots including eight intensive care, eight transitional care, four high dependency and 16 special care cots. In 2018, The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, admitted 1226 babies. The unit serves Kent, London and the South East.

The work

The Unit cares for babies born prematurely or who are sick and need intensive care in a highly specialised facility, with skilled staff and sophisticated equipment. It provides all neonatal medical intensive care (excluding cardiology) and also Cooling Therapy for babies with Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy: a brain problem following lack of oxygen and blood supply at birth.

The team

The team comprises two Paediatric Surgeons, jointly appointed with Kings College Hospital, and a dedicated Neonatal Transport Team.

Quality of life

The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has increased the number of babies for whom they care. And the team has also increased the percentage of babies who have survived – and survived well, to have good quality of life.

Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust

The Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust (OFSCBT) raises additional funds to purchase essential equipment for The Oliver Fisher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

 

READ MORE
dinner table with red napkins, charity ball programme and Christmas CrackersCharity Ball

Record-breaking Axis Foundation Charity Ball 2019

December 13, 2019By

As the culmination to our 10th birthday year of celebrations, our 14th charity ball raised a record-breaking £150,000. This brings the total sums raised by all Axis’ charity balls to £850,000.

In 2019 the Foundation celebrated a Decade of Donations. It has granted over £1.4m to 200+ small, local and impactful causes. As Peter Varney, Chairman of the Trustees of the Axis Foundation said on the night of the ball:

None of us involved could ever have imagined how much the Axis Foundation would develop into the charity it is today and we are immensely proud of the work it now does. So thank you again to all of you who are here tonight for your support and your donations.  And, here’s to the next ten years of giving!

The money raised on the night was donated to our long-term charity partner Demelza Hospice for Children as well as our guest charity of the night, The Oliver Fisher Trust. Both these charities are devoted to helping babies, children and their families at times of unbearable sadness and when precious, short lives are drawing to an end.

The Foundation sees this record-breaking charity ball as a remarkable and fitting close to our 10th birthday year and thanks all our generous guests and supporters for helping us help our chosen charities.

READ MORE
Axis Foundation Logo and Silver ten trophy on tableNews

10th Birthday celebrations mark a Decade of Donations

December 13, 2019By

This year, 2019, the Axis Foundation is 10 years old.

At the beginning of 2019

We launched our birthday year with Generous January. The Foundation invited Axis people to nominate local causes and individuals who might need a helping hand in the New Year.

Birthday celebrations

To mark our Decade of Donations the Axis Foundation hosted a party at Painter-Stainers Hall in London (recently refurbished by our award-winning Projects Division). Guests included our clients as well as friends from the many small, local and impactful causes the Foundation has supported.

Celebrity Golf Day’s a Winner

Our annual Golf Day – named for our, sports pundit and tv personality Patron Alan Curbishley – raised a record amount in our birthday year.

And the close of play

A fitting end to our celebratory year, our 2019 Axis Foundation Charity Ball raised a record-breaking £150,000 for our charities for the night. These were the Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Trust and our partner Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

The numbers

Since the Foundation was born, it has donated over £1.4m to 200 small, local and impactful causes in the communities where we work. We like to call it our Decade of Donations!

Our work

The Foundation has:

  • provided care and love as well as vital equipment and improved facilities for those with life-limiting illnesses
  • funded medical research into children’s illnesses
  • supported anti-knife crime and youth safety initiatives
  • reached out the hand of friendship to those who are isolated, with practical donations like adapted minibuses and cars
  • helped the vulnerable meet, socialise and engage in activities as well as receive appropriate care.
  • given a voice for those hard-to-reach elements of our community who sometimes remain unheard.
Axis people

Funds for the Foundation come from a corporate donation as well as money raised by our charity ball and golf days and by the indefatigable people of Axis.Their work is acknowledged this year with the inaugural Axis Fundraising Heroes Awards.

Our partner

The Foundation’s charity partner is Demelza Hospice Care for Children. The hospice provides end of life care to children and babies and crucial support to their families. Axis has partnered Demelza for over 15 years (before the Foundation was born) and helped set up their new hospice facilities in East London. In 2019 Demelza awarded Axis their Gold Outstanding Corporate Supporter award at the Demelza Business Awards 2019.

READ MORE
Two young boxers holding their trophies after a fightDonations

Runcorn Amateur Boxing Club

December 12, 2019By

Giving disadvantaged youngsters a fighting chance through boxing training

Runcorn Amateur Boxing Club, open for nearly 100 years, is a haven for vulnerable youngsters in Cheshire. The Axis Foundation’s £5,000 donation bought new boxing equipment to improve the gym’s facilities. The new boxing equipment makes the club an even more attractive prospect for disadvantaged individuals.

Runcorn’s Head Coach, Darren, said “I’d like to thank Axis on behalf of everyone at the club, as well as personally. It’s great to find like-minded people with the same goal to improve the mindset of Runcorn’s kids on this issue and to help us help them. Again, thank you.”

More about Runcorn Amateur Boxing Club

Runcorn is in the top 5% of deprived areas nationally, so the boxing club is a place for young adults to engage in meaningful activities, away from negative influences like knife crime. It’s an important part of the community that helps children and young adults thrive, as well as exercise.

Preserving the facilities and maintaining equipment is an important part of keeping Runcorn open. Their fully-licensed community boxing club has over 100 members but is always welcoming newcomers. Their Knife Down Glove Up campaign plays a vital part in educating people about the dangers of knife crime. It will reach their immediate members as well as filter through parents to other families in the wider community.

Volunteer coaches make sure mentoring is aligned to the most vulnerable, helping youngsters develop both physically and mentally. The new gym equipment includes a boxing ring, which adds to the clubs great facilities. Runcorn welcomes children aged seven upwards, providing opportunities that could change lives and a space based on equal opportunities.

READ MORE
Patient using an FES machine in therapyDisability

Berkshire MS Therapy Centre

December 12, 2019By

Donation of Functional Electrical Stimulation machine helps MS sufferers

The Berkshire MS Therapy Centre has supported people with Multiple Sclerosis for over 30 years. Our donation means that the centre can buy a four-channel Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) machine, and the accompanying electrodes. The machine stimulates four muscles simultaneously, alleviating symptoms such as impaired limb movement and muscle weakness.

I feel like I did before I had MS – Candice, patient

Being able to exercise properly is vital for MS sufferers because exercise rebuilds muscle strength. It also benefits fatigue and balance, decreasing the risk of falls.

Candice, who uses the machine said: “It is amazing how this small piece of equipment can make me grin like a love-struck teenager! I just can’t explain enough how it feels to suddenly have so much improvement in my movements. I feel like I did before I had MS. A simple thank you just doesn’t seem enough to convey what a difference this has made.”

The Berkshire Centre has used FES therapy for years but usually this therapy is a treatment for foot drop. The centre now uses a four-channel machine to aid people with wider movement issues, helping even more MS sufferers. FES applies electrical charges to muscles that have been paralysed or weakened because of brain or spinal cord damage. Leading physiotherapist Henriette said the machine “is a great addition because we can offer more support for people with MS”.

She adds: “On behalf of everyone at the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre thank for your help and generosity.”

More about MS

MS is an unpredictable condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. It can cause a range of debilitating symptoms; the centre uses treatments to make life with MS easier. To find out more, visit https://www.bmstc.org/.

Watch Candice with an FES machine in action below.

READ MORE
women victims of domestic abuse faces away from camera tattoo on backCare

Woman’s Trust

December 9, 2019By

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.

 

READ MORE
Group pictures of volunteers at one of WellChild's Helping Hands projectsCare

WellChild’s Helping Hands project

December 9, 2019By

Making homes and gardens accessible for young people with exceptional health needs

Many children and young people live in homes which are not suitable for their needs. The Axis Foundation has donated £6,250 to WellChild, supporting children and young people with exceptional healthcare needs. Their Helping Hands project regularly enlists volunteers to create safe, stimulating gardens in the homes of sick children.

A donation like this will allow us to offer more help to families who really need it. We are very grateful to Axis for this kind donation to the WellChild Helping Hands programme.”- Lorna Pedersen, Head of Wellchild

Our funding will give at least four more children accessible sensory areas to enjoy. A sensory garden can be a haven for children with complex needs because it’s a place that allows them to develop. It is also a familiar environment, so children get the opportunity to actually enjoy playing outside.

More About Wellchild

Having children with complex conditions often makes going out as a family impossible. So Wellchild’s projects are a lifeline for families who need an outdoor space to spend time in together. The project offers organisations a unique opportunity to have a direct impact on their local community. Through volunteering days companies can have fantastic team building experiences, while improving the lives of many people. WellChild has already worked on over 390 gardens UK wide and has over 90 successful London projects.

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

READ MORE
Two women at Rohan Gardens care home with gardening equipmentCommunity

Rohan Gardens Support Group

December 9, 2019By

We preserve and maintain gardens at Care Home

The Axis Foundation has contributed £1000 to the Rohan Gardens Support Group. The group preserves, maintains and improves the outdoor areas at Rohan Gardens Care Home in Warwick. The donation will also help put on events, like barbecues and tea parties. Because of their work on the garden, more residents will be drawn in to enjoy the fresh air and engage with the community.

The team at Rohan Gardens has been building on the work of a small group of residents led by Sylvia Avery. Sylvia said, “I first came to Rohan Gardens over 6 years ago and my apartment overlooks the main community garden. Looking out I was less than inspired by the bland, no colour vista. So I decided to do something about it.”

Since then, the group has volunteered their own time and money to grow a relaxing space for residents. They have improved the garden by introducing a summerhouse, water feature, gazebo and garden furniture. The group won a gold medal in the Community Gardens category at the Warwick in Bloom horticultural awards 2018/2019.

Secretary of the group, Gary Hawkins said: “Over the past two years we have worked hard to establish the garden as a place for residents to relax in and enjoy the outdoor space. We are investing the money in equipment, topsoil, future planting and other related items. We would not have been able to do so without help from the Axis Foundation.”

The garden is an environment that provides sanctuary for 70 residents living at the care home. It’s a safe outdoor space where people can walk around as well as sit and interact with others. All of this means a higher quality of life for residents making the care home a much brighter place to live.

READ MORE
Two young girls stood next to plane at bader braves young aviator dayDisability

The Douglas Bader Foundation

December 9, 2019By

Opening up a world of opportunity for disabled children

Douglas Bader Foundation exists to advance and promote the physical, mental and spiritual welfare of persons who are born without – or who have lost – one or more limbs, or are otherwise physically disabled.

Their Bader Braves Young Aviator Days offer disabled children the chance to fly in a light aircraft. Our 2019 pledge of £3,000 meant that at least 40 children could take to the skies!

And our subsequent 2023 donation of £5,000 provides Koala ‘Mitt’ prosthetic limbs to amputee children, opening up a world of opportunity.

“All children have the right to realise their aspirations and discover their true potential” – David Bickers, CEO

Bader Braves Aviator Days

Flying is a brilliant experience for children because it puts a huge smile on their faces. It’s also fun for the family. As one parent said: “My daughter cannot stand or walk, yet she took to the air like a bird, flying over Pembrokeshire squealing with delight. We had such a wonderful day, brilliant – Thank You!”

Young Aviator Days improve life-skills and increase confidence. They help children push their barriers and focus on what they can do, rather than on what they can’t. The whole day includes picnics, a goodie bag, a DVD, and a certificate of bravery for each child.

“As a charity we rely on the generosity of donations,” says David Bickers, CEO. “They enable us to continue offering this exciting and inspirational project to children and their families. The wonderful donation from the Axis Foundation means we can secure the day for next year already, which is fantastic. It is wonderful for the children and their families to know already that the day will go ahead. They cannot wait!”

More here.

READ MORE