BBC Local Radio Make A Difference Awards

Local BBC Radio to recognise and celebrate everyday acts of kindness with Make A Difference Awards 2023

Nominate local heroes in your community now

BBC Local Radio is once again honouring your great neighbours, super carers, and awesome volunteers for everyday acts of kindness where they live.

For this year's 'Make A Difference Awards' every local BBC radio station across England needs your help to find these remarkable individuals. We want to hear about the amazing people who have positively impacted their communities over the past year.

'Make A Difference' was established days after the first lockdown was announced in 2020. It is a virtual notice board where members of the public can offer help to or seek support from people in their local area. To date, nearly 11 million people have interacted across all 39 local BBC radio stations.

The awards celebrate the heart-warming stories that we hear day-after-day, of people going above and beyond to make a difference where they live.

There are eight award categories that cover the unsung heroes of every community, including a new one this year – Bravery (listed below).

The nominations close on Sunday 5 March at 11:00pm.

The winners will be announced at our Make a Difference Awards Ceremonies hosted by local BBC radio stations up and down the country in September.

Chris Burns, Controller Local Audio Commissioning for BBC England says:

"I am really pleased that we will once again be celebrating the good things that people are doing where they live. Our audiences have faced tough times over the past few years and have contacted us to share their stories of how people are helping each other. It's great that we can celebrate these unsung heroes."

For a full list of categories – and details of how to nominate someone – go to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference, where you can also see full Terms and our Privacy Notice.

Nominations are open now and will close on Sunday 5 March at 11:00pm.

Categories

Volunteer

Awarded to an individual who makes a notable difference to the community by giving their time voluntarily to help out a good cause.

Community Groups

Awarded to a group of people who have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within the community.

Fundraiser

Awarded to an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause.

Carer

Awarded to someone who improves the life of an individual or group of people by caring for them on a regular basis.

Great Neighbour

Awarded to an individual or group of people who help to make the neighbourhood or local community a better place to live or work, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness.

Bravery

Awarded to an individual who has shown outstanding courage, defiance and duty in the face of perceived danger, fear or difficulty. (hopefully this will appeal to blue-light people/military.)

The Green Award

Awarded to an individual or group of people who help to make where we live a better place for nature and the environment.

The Together Award

Awarded to an individual or group of people who encourage diversity within their community. They do this by creating real change and breaking down barriers, bringing people from different walks of life together for a common cause.