Source: Breast Cancer Now
In the East of England, our hospital partnerships help us to spread kindness. Dedicated Oncology, Radiotherapy and Breast Care Teams give Little Lifts gift Boxes directly to patients during treatment planning and review meetings.
If you’re receiving treatment at one of these hospitals, you will automatically receive a gift Box.
Click each hospital for more details.
Become part of our Little Lifts community and help support people affected by breast cancer. There are a variety of ways you can get involved, from fundraising to volunteering.
In 2014, at the age of 28, Little Lifts Founder, Oa, was diagnosed with primary breast cancer. What followed was a whirlwind of emotions and medical appointments. Six weeks after her diagnosis, she began six rounds of chemotherapy treatment. It was a scary time with lots of uncertainty and an overwhelming sense of the unknown.
Leading up to and during her treatment, Oa was fortunate to have a support network of family and friends to help her along the way. They lifted those down days with a few little treats to relieve some of the side effects she experienced – and so the concept of the Little Lifts gift Box was born.
We call ourselves ‘small but mighty’ for a reason. Introducing the Little Lifts A-Team, working tirelessly to support people affected by breast cancer.
Founder
Before starting Little Lifts, Oa had worked in a variety of roles within the third sector. In 2019, Oa was awarded a first in her CertHE in Charity and Enterprise Management. In 2023, she received a Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister. In 2024, Oa won the Professional Fundraiser of the Year Award from the East of England Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and in July 2024, she was honoured with the British Citizen Award for exceptional services to healthcare. Oa is a fussy tea drinker, loves whales, and is often found cold-water dipping!
Finance and Business Support Manager
Kay (aka Box Guru) coordinates lots of important bits behind the scenes at Little Lifts, including accounts, tech and office stuff. It’s no surprise that she LOVES a spreadsheet. Kay started working at Little Lifts in 2018, firstly as a volunteer. After attending a chemotherapy session with a family member and seeing firsthand its side effects, she was keen to support other people who are facing treatment for breast cancer.
Events and Community Fundraising Manager
Shopie is our amazing events and fundraising guru, supporting and championing our community! In fact, in 2018 she was named South Norfolk Community Champion for her support of people affected by breast cancer. Shopie has volunteered with Little Lifts from the beginning. She was with Oa throughout her diagnosis and treatment, and was there when Little Lifts was born! She started her role with us in October 2019.
Admin and Support Coordinator
George joined us in September 2021 as part of the Government Kick Start Initiative. He is essentially Box Guru #2 and provides vital support to our operations so that our Boxes are carefully hand-packed and delivered on time. He also provides important administrative support and is Norma’s biggest fan! Following his 6-month placement, we are super proud of George for completing his apprenticeship with us. We have since welcomed him to the team permanently.
Operations and Support Executive
Frannie joined our Operations and Support team in May 2022, looking after all things Little Lifts Boxes, The Little Kindness Fund, and supporting our amazing volunteers and events. She has a 9-year-old and 7-year-old twins at home and is often heard singing to herself! She previously volunteered for Home-Start Norfolk, supporting a family with baby twins after experiencing their help with her own. She loves spending time with family and friends and has a (not so secret!) obsession with office stationery.
Brand, Marketing and Community Executive
Anya-Lee started with us in August 2022, developing all things social media, website and marketing. As well as looking after our amazing online community and fundraisers. Her Art and English Literature background means she brings a creative eye to everything she does. Her obsession with visual arts peaks with anything Disney! With cancer touching her family on many occasions, she wanted to use her skills to positively impact others.
Operations and Support Manager
Lizzie started with us in December 2022, having previously worked with members of the team. As Operations and Support Manager, Lizzie looks after our hospital partnerships, Boxes and volunteers. Lizzie also serves as Chair of our Little Seeds events committee, helping to raise awareness and funds for Little Lifts. In her free time, Lizzie enjoys being out in nature and singing with a local choir.
Operations and Support Executive
Hannah was welcomed into the Operations Team in June 2023. Hannah has a personal connection to Little Lifts as her sister, Laura, is a Little Lifts Ambassador. Hannah has watched Little Lifts grow over the years and knows the importance of support during treatment. After studying Visual Studies at art school, she loves to be creative where she can! She also enjoys baking, jigsaw puzzles and long walks.
Office Pooches: Including Therapy Dog Norma
The office wouldn’t be the same without our four-legged friends, though we could do without Norma’s snoring! Norma is such a beloved part of our family that she even makes it onto our Little Lifts Christmas cards every year. Then there’s Myrty, our office rescue pooch—our Founder went on holiday and came back with him!
We have an excellent Board of Trustees – all highly experienced in their field and with a shared purpose to make Little Lifts the best it can be.
Together they guide, monitor, and govern the way Little Lifts operates.
Strategy
Marketing and Brand
Legal (previous beneficiary)
Medical Consultant
Finance
Operations (previous beneficiary)
We are proud to have an incredible trio of Patrons and Ambassadors, each deeply passionate about our mission and committed to helping Little Lifts grow and succeed.
Founding Patron
Art for Cure raise vital funds to support breast cancer research, as well as wellbeing projects like ours. Art for Cure has been with us since the very beginning. Our initial meeting, with an empty box in hand, was where we shared our vision for the charity. Since 2017, Art for Cure has provided us with essential funding, empowering us to support breast cancer patients in Suffolk undergoing chemotherapy at Ipswich and West Suffolk Hospitals.
Patron
Since 2019, Harriet has wholeheartedly supported our work by donating Spacemasks to our Little Lifts gift Boxes, undertaking fundraising challenges, and encouraging her community to do the same (you’ll find her on Instagram)! In August 2020, she launched a new chamomile Spacemask in aid of Little Lifts, helping us to kick-start our Little Kindness Fund, which launched in February 2021. She is always surprising our team with treats in the post, which brightens up our days!
Ambassador
Laura lives with secondary breast cancer and has been involved with Little Lifts since its inception. Laura and Oa met when they were both diagnosed with primary breast cancer in 2014. Laura is on a mission to raise awareness and support the secondary community through her platform, Secondary Sisters. Her Ambassador role at Little Lifts sees her packing Boxes, speaking at events, modelling for campaigns and fundraising. She is a total superstar!
We know our work makes a big difference because so many people tell us so. Don’t just take our word for it.
Little Lifts
Extras
Contact us
01603 740361
hello@littlelifts.org.uk
Little Lifts
Bowthorpe Hall Norwich NR5 9AA
Website designed by Manifesto Studios
Little Lifts is a registered charity in England
and Wales (no. 1170737).
© Little Lifts 2025
