In a world that often moves too fast, where good work can go unnoticed and dedication can become routine, taking time to celebrate excellence isn't just nice to have. It's essential.
Awards ceremonies might seem formal or even ceremonial to some, but at their heart, they serve a deeper purpose. They shine a light on the people who show up every day with compassion and commitment. They create a moment to pause, reflect, and say thank you. They remind us that the work being done across our communities truly matters.
And perhaps most importantly, they inspire others to keep going, to keep trying, and to know that their efforts are seen and valued.
That's why the North East Lincolnshire Health and Care Partnership Excellence Awards, held on Thursday, 2nd October 2025 at Grimsby Town Football Club, was so much more than just an evening of recognition. It was a celebration of everything that makes our community strong, a showcase of the incredible work happening across health and care, and a powerful reminder of what's possible when people come together.
Thank you to Sharon for inviting me to represent Our Future.
The Power of Recognition
Recognition changes things. It lifts spirits, strengthens resolve, and builds connections between people doing similar work in different corners of our community.
For someone working long hours in a caring role, often without fanfare or thanks, being nominated for an award can be transformational. It tells them their work matters. It shows them they're not alone. It gives them energy to keep making a difference.
For teams working behind the scenes to improve systems, develop new approaches, or support vulnerable people, public recognition validates their efforts and encourages others to join them.
And for our wider community, awards like these tell a story. They show us the best of who we are. They highlight the creativity, compassion, and dedication that exists right here in North East Lincolnshire. They prove that great things are happening, often quietly, all around us.
This is why the North East Lincolnshire Health and Care Partnership made the commitment to create these awards. Not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a genuine celebration of the people who are building healthier, happier, and more connected communities.
Who the Health and Care Partnership Are
The North East Lincolnshire Health and Care Partnership brings together NHS organisations, the council, voluntary and community groups, and local partners. They work as one team, with one plan, and one shared goal: healthier communities and better lives for everyone.
Their approach is built on collaboration and co-production. They focus on joined-up care, reducing health inequalities, and making it easier for people to access the right support at the right time.
They also champion the NELHCP People and Skills Pledge, a commitment to attracting, recruiting, and retaining workforce talent across health and social care in North East Lincolnshire. Through partnership working, they're building a sustainable future for the sector and for the people it serves.
But behind all the strategy and planning sits something even more important: people.
People who care. People who lead. People who innovate. People who volunteer their time, energy, and heart to make a difference.
And that's exactly what these awards were designed to recognise.
A Room Full of Changemakers
Walking into the room that evening, you could feel it. The pride, the warmth, the sense of community.
There were youth workers, carers, volunteers, apprentices, NHS staff, charity leaders, and local business owners. There were people who've been doing this work for decades, and others just starting out. There were quiet heroes who rarely get recognised, and teams who've been working tirelessly behind the scenes.
What struck us most was the relationships in the room. People who work across different organisations, different sectors, different communities, but who all know each other, support each other, and champion each other's work.
That's the strength of North East Lincolnshire. That's what makes this place special.
Celebrating The Winners
The awards celebrated 10 categories, each one shining a light on a different aspect of health and care work across our area.
Every nomination told a story of dedication, and every winner represented countless hours of compassionate service.
Here are the incredible people and organisations we all celebrated:
Employer of the Year
Winner: Creating Positive Opportunity
Highly Commended: Centre4
Best Workforce Initiative
Winner: Academy North East Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire Council
Highly Commended: Jackie Rizan, St Andrew's Hospice Grimsby
Partnership Award
Winner: Mags Guest, St Hugh's Hospital & Kelly Storey, NHS Humber Health Partnership
Highly Commended: Michelle Donner, Oasis Hub South & Emma Coxon, Lincolnshire Housing Partnership
Highly Commended: Growing Well Together Team, Navigo
Culture of Kindness Award
Winner: Nic Reed, Cleethorpes Rock Choir
Winner: Elaine Norton, One Voice Immingham
Innovation Award
Winner: Active Forever
Highly Commended: Let's Go Grimsby
Youth Worker of the Year
Winner: Cadarn Taylor, YMCA Humber
Highly Commended: Jordan Aisthorpe, CLIMB 4 LIMITED
Apprentice / T-Level Student of the Year
Winner: Kayla Frieslaar, Care Plus Group
Highly Commended: Ashlee Brown, Friendship at Home CIO
Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Nev Clark, Care Plus Group
Highly Commended: Debbie Elder, Alzheimer's Society Dementia Café in Immingham
Carer of the Year (All Ages)
Winner: Claire Sheppard, SEN Superheroes Group
Highly Commended: Michael Obi Okonta
Special Achievement Award
Winner: Michelle Martin, Navigo
Highly Commended: Bailey Greetham, Clark Be Great Fitness
Every single name on that list represents hours of dedication, resilience, and care. Every winner and every person highly commended is part of a bigger story. A story about what's possible when people come together with purpose and compassion.
To each and every one of you: thank you. Your work makes North East Lincolnshire a better place to live, work, and grow.
Why Partnership Matters
The awards weren't just about individual achievement. They were about partnership. They were about what happens when health organisations, voluntary groups, businesses, and local people come together with a shared purpose.
At Our Future, we believe that the people who live in a town are best placed to shape its future. Our role is to back their leadership, connect them to national networks, and create the funding and conditions that make long-term change possible. We don't deliver top-down programmes. We co-create with communities and support the people already driving change.
And that's exactly what we saw at these awards.
People leading from the front. People supporting each other. People building something better, together.
It reminded us why we do this work, and why North East Lincolnshire is exactly the kind of place where community-led change can thrive.
That's the DNA of this place. And it's something worth celebrating, protecting, and investing in.
A Heartfelt Thank You
Pulling together an event like this is no small task, so a huge well done to Katrina Goodhand and Sharon Stead for organising such a brilliant evening. You did yourselves, and the whole Health and Care Partnership, proud.
Well done to all the sponsors who supported these awards. Your contribution will have made this celebration possible. It shows that local businesses recognise the value of giving back and understand that supporting community initiatives strengthens all of us.
When businesses invest in recognising the people doing vital work across the community, they're not just providing funding. They're sending a message that this work matters.
They're showing solidarity with the organisations and individuals who are making North East Lincolnshire a better place. They're demonstrating what's possible when the private sector and community sector work hand in hand.
If you're a business reading this and thinking about how you could get involved next year, I am sure Sharon Stead would love to hear from you. It doesn't have to be something huge. A little support can go a long way, and it strengthens the whole community.
We truly believe that North East Lincolnshire will be stronger, healthier, and happier when community organisations and businesses work together. Sponsoring awards like these is one tangible way to make that happen.
Looking Forward
As we reflect on the evening, we are left feeling inspired, proud, and full of gratitude.
Gratitude for the people in that room who are doing great things, often without recognition, often without fanfare.
Gratitude for the organisations and partnerships that are creating the conditions for that work to happen.
And gratitude to be part of a place where relationships matter, where people look out for each other, and where there's a genuine belief in what's possible.
The inaugural North East Lincolnshire Health and Care Partnership Excellence Awards set a powerful precedent. It showed us what happens when we take time to celebrate the best of our community. It reminded us of the incredible talent, compassion, and innovation that exists right here on our doorstep.
And it made one thing crystal clear: awards aren't just about looking back at what's been achieved. They're about energising people for the work still to come. They're about building momentum, strengthening connections, and inspiring the next generation of changemakers.
At the heart of North East Lincolnshire are the people and the relationships that are formed. That's what makes this place so special. And nights like this remind us all why that's worth protecting, celebrating, and investing in.
Here's to everyone who was part of this special evening. Here's to the winners, the highly commended, the nominees, the organisers, and the sponsors. And here's to many more years of celebrating excellence across our health and care community.
Get Involved
If you are interested in hearing more about the People and Skills Pledge or you are interested in sponsoring next year's awards, please contact Sharon Stead, Programme Lead (Workforce & Innovation) at Sharon.stead@nhs.net or call 07970490406.
To find out more about the North East Lincolnshire Health and Care Partnership, visit, humberandnorthyorkshire.org.uk/locations/north-east-lincolnshire
To learn more about Our Future and the work happening across North East Lincolnshire, visit: our-future.io
To find out more about the People and Skills Pledge, visit: https://nelincspeopleskillspledgehcp.co.uk/