We would like to say a massive thank you to our trustees who are such an integral part of our small but mighty charity. We couldn’t do this without you Karyn (Chair), Jon (Treasurer), Ella, Jill, Per and Zoe. This amazing group of people form our board of trustees, who are all highly experienced in their field and have a shared purpose to make Little Lifts the best it can be. Together they guide, monitor and govern the way Little Lifts operates. When they aren’t at a board meeting you will see them at our events, packing up Little Lifts Boxes or out on deliveries. We are so grateful for our trustees past and present.
We interviewed our current Trustees Zoe and Ella to celebrate their contribution to Little Lifts and also for them to reflect on our growth as it is our 6th birthday this month.
Zoe Hill – Operations Director at Paddy & Scott’s
Why is Little Lifts important to you?
After being diagnosed with breast cancer myself 4 years ago at the age of 34, I have been on the receiving end of a Little Lifts Box. I find it hard to describe how important it was to feel like I wasn’t alone in those moments. When you are first diagnosed you are thrown an awful lot of information and you’re incredibly overwhelmed, and this beautifully curated box just cut through all the noise and whispered ‘you’re not alone’. It was important to me to find out who the amazing person was behind such a thoughtful charity and for Oa to ask me to be a trustee was an incredibly proud full circle moment.
What do you love about being a Trustee?
The community of fantastic people that Oa has gathered around Little Lifts from the team, volunteers, patrons and sponsors; everyone is a joy to be around and really ‘get’ what Little Lifts is all about. Because Little Lifts is a charity helping people go through treatment for breast cancer, people can easily assume it’s sad and depressing but it is the exact opposite of that. It is filled with hope, fun and laughter. Giving people not just a Box of curated gifts but a support network of people that provide comfort and support during a really tough time and beyond.
Any standout moments from being a Trustee or involved with Little Lifts?
It has to be my first ball as a trustee just a few weeks ago. To see the whole community under one roof and hear from volunteers and supporters about what the charity means to them was truly heartwarming. Then to see a record-breaking amount of money raised on the night and all the laugher and smiles on the dancefloor afterwards really encapsulated what Little Lifts is all about.
Challenges that Little Lifts has faced and how it has overcome them?
Challenges around growth are always difficult as we want to contain that semblance of ‘small but mighty’ and community feeling, whilst also being able to provide support to as many people going through treatment as possible. As always, the wonderful team that supports Oa are so positive and take on any challenges that are thrown at them with a big smile on their face so they make it look easy!
Any other reflections or comments?
It’s fantastic to see Little Lifts continuing to seek new ways of supporting people, and the new surgery box and partnership with Addenbrookes just shows this small but mighty team are only just getting started!
Ella A’Court – Leadership Development Director at Maier
It is difficult to sum up what I love about Little Lifts because there is so much. Ultimately it is about people. So, for me it is the people who receive the Boxes and hearing their feedback and with that the incredible impact of something that might seem like a small thing at first.
Secondly, the people at Little Lifts. It’s a growing team of amazing individuals, who are all so talented and that’s wonderful to see. Also the volunteers, we couldn’t do what we do without them coming into HQ every week to offer their support. This community is also growing which is just amazing.
Finally, the board of trustees, having an amazing bunch of people to work with and who inspire me. I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of Little Lifts.
