YMCA Norfolk honours team at annual awards 

YMCA Norfolk has gathered together over 100 staff members for its annual staff day at The Space, a social enterprise conference centre in Sprowston.

YMCA Norfolk hosted its staff from across all services in an afternoon of celebration on April 18. It was an opportunity to reflect on the past year, share thoughts for the future, and recognise the achievements of its team. Staff were also spotlighted for their dedication to the organisation, with some staff celebrating 5, 10, and even 30 years working for the Christian charity.
 
During the awards segment of the day, four awards were given to staff who embody the ethos of YMCA Norfolk and help transform the lives of young people across Norfolk. Below are the winners of those awards.
 
The Spirit of YMCA Norfolk Award
Winner: Esther Nixon
Esther is the Manager of Therapeutic and Family Services and embodies all that YMCA Norfolk stands for. After taking on the Communities Team last year, Esther has dedicated her time to transforming the wellbeing of young people and families, while also growing the team with kindness and compassion. She works hard to put others first, and makes both staff and clients feel valued, listened to, and appreciated.
 
Staff Member of the Year
Winner: Sharon Willimott
Sharon has dedicated many years to supporting and uplifting families, often going above and beyond to ensure that families and young people feel supported. In the past year, Sharon has helped young parents keep custody of their children, families in crisis access funds they needed, families find a home fit for purpose, and so much more… She works within YMCA Norfolk’s families team to continue to transform young lives every single day.
 
Team of the Year
Winner: My Place and Community Housing Norfolk
YMCA Norfolk provides over 240 young people with a safe place to stay every night; two of these accommodation options include My Place and Community Housing. My Place and Community Housing have dealt with lots of change over the past year, but handled it with grace and resilience. Despite being a small team, they continue to place young people at the heart of everything they do to support them on their journey to independent living. (pictured above)
 
Fundraising Team of the Year
Winner: Chaplaincy Team
Megan Saunders, and the YMCA Norfolk Chaplaincy Team, successfully won Fundraising Team of the Year, thanks to Megan’s incredible efforts during their Sleep Easy campaign. Putting herself out of her comfort zone and braving the cold, Megan successfully raised over £500 which will support YMCA Norfolk’s ongoing work to help homeless young people in the community. (pictured below)