Celebrating Our A Team: What the Great Big Small Award Means for Women’s Aid NEL

TLDR:

Our Retail Team has won the A Team Award at the North East Lincolnshire Great Big Small Awards on Friday 3rd october 2025.

This recognises the hard work of our shop staff and volunteers across Hainton, Tiverton, Nunsthorpe, Willows and our eBay hub. Their work supports every part of Women’s Aid NEL and helps women and children find safety, hope and stability.

We are delighted to share that our Retail Team has won the A Team Award at the North East Lincolnshire Great Big Small Awards. This recognition means a great deal to us because it shines a light on the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support women and children across our area.

Our shop teams are far more than retail staff. They are the enablers who make so much of our work possible. Every donation sorted, every item sold and every visitor welcomed in our shops helps to keep our services running and ensures women and children have somewhere safe to turn when they need it most.

This award belongs to everyone across our retail family, including our incredible volunteers who give their time, care and energy to each shop.

A whole team effort

Managers and staff from all our shops collected the award together on the night. This included teams from:

• Hainton• Tiverton)• Nunsthorpe• Willows• Our eBay and online retail hub

Each shop plays a vital role in our charity and each one has its own community of supporters and customers who help make this possible.

Recognising our volunteers

Our volunteers are the beating heart of our retail work. They sort donations, serve customers, create displays and bring warmth and kindness into every shift. Their dedication ensures our shops remain welcoming places where customers feel part of something that matters.

This award also celebrates them. Their time and commitment directly support women and children who are building new futures after domestic abuse. We could not do what we do without them.

Why this award matters

Winning the A Team Award is not just about retail excellence. It is about what that excellence makes possible.

• It supports our refuge

• It helps fund our 24 hour support line

• It allows us to be there for women and children at the hardest moments of their lives

• It strengthens our whole organisation and helps us plan for the future

When the community shops with us or donates an item, they are helping someone find safety. This award is a reminder of the impact that everyday actions can have when a community stands together.

A proud moment for Women’s Aid NEL

We are incredibly proud of our retail team and our volunteers and we are grateful for the support of everyone who chooses our shops.

Thank you to the Great Big Small Awards for recognising the work taking place across Women’s Aid NEL. Thank you to our customers for choosing to shop with purpose. And thank you to our volunteers and teams who show up day after day with dedication and heart.

This award belongs to all of you. 💜