Giving Back, together: Axter’s Charity Days in Action

At Axter Ltd, our Charity Day initiative reflects a meaningful commitment to the communities around us. Every employee is offered one paid working day each year to volunteer in support of a cause important to them. 

As Carley Porter explains:

Climbing with Purpose: The Three Peaks Challenge

Several colleagues used their Charity Day to take on the National Three Peaks Challenge in support of Tommy’s. For Phil Saunders, the challenge carried deep personal meaning:

“We had lost our daughter Marnie the year before, so the charity is incredibly close to my heart. Tommy’s provides vital research, guidance and support to families going through pregnancy loss and baby loss, and having experienced that kind of grief firsthand, I know how important that work is. Taking on the challenge felt like a way to honour Marnie while also helping other families who find themselves in the same devastating position.”

What made the experience powerful was the support from colleagues throughout the trip. The encouragement, messages, the donations and the genuine care shown by the team meant a great deal to me personally. It was not just a physical challenge, it was an emotional one too, and I felt completely backed by the people I work with. Days like this really matter because they allow us to bring our whole selves to work, to support one another through real-life experiences, and to use our collective effort to make a meaningful difference beyond the business.”

That sense of unity was echoed by Annie Hunn:

“Planning the trip was a real passion project for me, and it was amazing to see everyone come together with such a positive, determined spirit. Over the weekend, we really felt the power of teamwork, checking in on each other, sharing encouragement, and pushing through the tough moments side by side. Using a charity day to take on something so challenging felt incredibly special, and completing it within the allocated time, knowing we’d done it together for a cause that means so much, made me immensely proud of the whole team.”

Raquel Bullough added:

“The Three Peaks challenge was a great initiative to combine team building, resilience, and social impact into one memorable event. The challenge helped us raise awareness and the importance of safer pregnancies through Tommy’s charity… Using this day meant making a difference, and I’m happy to have taken that opportunity.”

Through one Charity Day, colleagues honoured loved ones, strengthened bonds and raised awareness for families facing pregnancy and baby loss.

Supporting Local Families in Crisis: Dora Brown

Volunteering can mean offering practical support where it is needed most. Team members supported Dora Brown, a Woodbridge-based charity that transforms homes for local families in crisis, free of charge.

Katie Day shared:

“Stepping away from the office for the day allowed us to give back to the community while working alongside a team of inspiring volunteers. It was a rewarding day of decluttering, cleaning, and meeting new people, all while helping create a fresh start for a family who truly needed it. I look forward to using my charity day again this year.”

Anita Patel described the immediate impact of that hands-on work:

In just one day, practical effort translated into renewed comfort and hope.

Protecting and Improving Local Spaces

Environmental stewardship is another way colleagues have used their Charity Day to make a lasting difference.

At Blaxhall Common Nature Reserve, volunteers joined Suffolk Wildlife Trust to help protect endangered heathland.

Nanna Kruse described the opportunity “to see their work and make a difference,” while Joe Wood explained the hands-on nature of the day, focusing on removing invasive plants and saplings threatening the habitat.

Alex Delbouque reflected on the learning behind the task:

“At first it seemed counterintuitive to REMOVE trees from nature… However, it was explained that if not done, Pine trees would relatively quickly take over the heathland. Around 85% of heathland has been lost over the past 150 years through agricultural development and the planting of conifers… I was surprised to see how many there were once you start looking for them.”

“Spending the day outside was great, but the main benefit for me was walking through a beautiful heathland with nothing to think about other than finding the next pine sapling…”

The work was physical and purposeful, helping preserve vital habitats for birds and insects while protecting an increasingly rare landscape.

Similarly, Phill Wilcox-Moore spent his Charity Day volunteering with the Eye Town Moors Woodland Society in his hometown of Eye in Mid-Suffolk:

“I joined a few other volunteers on the day, and we worked together on an ongoing woodland infrastructure project focused on the removal and replacement of several dilapidated bridges.”

For Phill, the reward was in tangible progress:

“It was a fantastic day, I really enjoy building things and seeing the positive result of hard work, and it was great to get stuck in for such a good cause. There's something really rewarding about doing practical, visible work that you know will make a difference, whether that's making the woods more accessible for people through bridge improvements or supporting the long-term management of woods through tree conservation and habitat creation.”

He summarised the opportunity simply:

“Axter’s workplace charity days provide a great opportunity to improve your local community, and I'd encourage everyone to get involved.”

Creating Joy and Continuing Tradition

For Ian Thompson, Charity Day is dedicated to supporting his wife’s preschool, a charitable setting reliant on donations for equipment, educational toys and resources, including for children with additional needs.

Each year, Ian uses his day to play Father Christmas at their annual party, continuing a family tradition:

“I save this generous day that Axter allow us to take for playing Father Christmas for the children at their annual Christmas party. It has become a bit of a family tradition as my dad used to do this for many years… When my dad became too frail and not able to undertake one of his favourite pastimes, he handed ‘The Suit’ over to me.”

What began as stepping into a role has become something deeply meaningful:

“I would never have thought it possible that I would enjoy doing this, but I do. I feel it is a privilege.”

And in the quiet moments, the impact is clear:

“Seeing the children’s excited faces full of wonderment and awe is really something special. One year, a child who had challenging needs climbed onto my lap with his book and sat there whilst I read him a story… when their parents were shown the photograph, their mum cried.”

Whether climbing mountains, restoring homes, protecting fragile landscapes or creating magical memories for children, Axter’s Charity Day enables our people to give back in ways that are personal, authentic and impactful, strengthening our communities while staying true to our values.

Read more of Axter's Work Life on our Career Page.