Small Team of the Year

Antrim and Newtownabbey BC
Ballyearl Leisure Centre: setting the gold standard in excellence

Ballyearl Leisure Centre has consistently set the standard for excellence, earning prestigious awards in both 2023 and 2024. Demonstrating remarkable resilience and adaptability amidst rising energy costs and a challenging economic climate, the team achieved exceptional results: a 25% year-on-year increase in membership, a 20% rise in facility usage, and an impressive reduction in subsidy of over £2.00. With significant energy-saving measures, enhanced health programme delivery, and a commitment to continuous improvement, the team goes above and beyond to deliver top-tier leisure services. Innovative solutions, operational efficiency, and a strong community focus make this team well deserving of the reward.

Calderdale MBC
EAST - Champions of financial stability and wellbeing

EAST is a small, dynamic team committed to financial justice, providing residents with tailored support to overcome financial challenges and improve well-being. Guided by Calderdale’s Anti-Poverty Action Plan and Vision 2024, EAST uses a data-driven approach to identify trends, target interventions, and innovate solutions, such as pre-emptive outreach and an infant formula voucher pathway. Their trauma-informed, holistic model integrates cross-service collaboration and professional development, ensuring seamless support. With measurable outcomes, including improved financial stability, high customer satisfaction, and strengthened community resilience, EAST exemplifies compassion, innovation, and inclusivity, transforming lives and contributing to Calderdale’s long-term vision.

Lancashire CC
Homes for Ukraine

The Homes for Ukraine team, formed in June 2022, consists of 9.15 members, mostly refugees, and supports over 2000 Ukrainians in Lancashire. They handle welfare checks, sponsor payments, and provide continuous support through a multi-lingual helpline. The team also assists with eVisa and UPE rollouts, organizes community events, and responds to emergencies like riots. They take pride in their work, offering empathetic support to those suffering from PTSD. Many team members, having fled Ukraine themselves, share their experiences to help others. Their proactive approach and dedication have made them a leading example in the UK.

Lewisham LBC
Small but Mighty - Electoral services team

The Electoral Services team has delivered the busiest year ever for elections in Lewisham Council’s history. From January until the middle of July they faced unprecedented pressure to deliver multiple elections. All London boroughs were faced with the GLA elections in May, but our small but mighty team had to deliver this and a Lewisham borough wide Mayoral by-election, two Council by-elections, a neighbourhood planning referendum, the Council’s Young Mayor election, throw a Parliamentary election into the mix, and increase voter registration – all with the smallest elections team in London.

Norfolk CC
Tech Skills for Life Community Tech Coaches

The Tech Skills for Life (TSfL) Community Tech Coaches, an eight-member team, excel in providing digital inclusion support to economically disadvantaged residents in Norfolk. Since July 2023, they've supported over 9,000 individuals, helped 40 gain employment, and distributed 1,450+ devices. Their efforts have reconnected hundreds with family and friends, reducing social isolation and loneliness and improving wellbeing. The team aligns with Norfolk County Council's Digital Inclusion Strategy, adapting to community needs and overcoming challenges like digital reluctance and economic barriers. Their impactful work includes personalised support and innovative solutions, significantly enhancing residents' digital skills and quality of life

Oxfordshire CC
Cost of Living Support Team

Oxfordshire County Council's Cost of Living team came together to mitigate the cost of living crisis's impact on Oxfordshire's most vulnerable residents. We delivered £13m of support to over 23,000 households experiencing deprivation, especially targeting our most vulnerable, in a county characterised by deep inequality. Our team brought together staff across directorates and partners to champion innovation, pushing through barriers to deliver crucial support in very short time-frames, providing the foundations for longer-term work tackling deprivation and piloting a model of agile working and daring to do differently that has since been rolled out across OCC more broadly.

Sandwell Children's Trust
House Project

Sandwell House project is a small team created in Sandwell linked to the National House project Movement. The Team works with Children we Care for to prepare them for independence working towards them taking on their own tenancy prior to or around their 18th Birthday. The project recognises the adverse experiences being in care has brought and the trauma that many have faced. The team work tirelessly to influence, enable and empower young people to achieve, thrive and grow. Their aspirations and positive outcome have had significant impact for all the young people engaged with this team.

Sevenoaks DC
Economic Development Team

The Economic Development (ED) team is a small dynamic team made up of individuals with extensive experience, enthusiasm and the ability to do more with less. The team is united by the core objective of supporting the District’s economy and demonstrate innovation, partnership and commitment to supporting economic growth and prosperity. Extensive achievements are made through dedication of individuals to provide exceptional customer service to businesses and communities within the District, with core funding for 4 staff and no project budgets the team continue to deliver excellence.

Southend-on-Sea City Council
Small team, big impact as Southend delivers democracy

Understanding the support our residents need to take part in democracy, and improving accessibility to our elections is the driving force behind what our elections team do. This year and against the backdrop of multiple elections delivered efficiently, we have aligned our engagement work to our specific demographic to improve the elector journey and experience, from registration through to polling day. It is vital work to ensure that everyone in our community has a chance to be registered to vote, including young people, older people and those experiencing homelessness. This proactive engagement approach underpins our local democracy here in Southend-on-Sea.

Suffolk CC
Flood Investigations and Grants Team

In October 2023 Storm Babet resulted in the most significant flood event in Suffolk for over 70 years. The scale of the response required by the Flood and Water Team at Suffolk County Council was unprecedented. A new Flood Investigations and Grants Team was created in December 2023 and the staff rose to the challenge. Excellent leadership, strong collaboration with partners and communities, clear communications, innovative solutions and lots of hard work has resulted in the impacted residents receiving excellent support and advice, and ensured the Council is now better placed to respond to similar situations.