Latest news with #BBCMakeADifferenceAwards
BBC News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tom Grennan encourages mental health discussions
The singer Tom Grennan said he now found it easier to talk about mental health issues to his friends than when he was 29-year-old Bedford-born singer made the comment during a conversation with a winner of the BBC's Make a Difference Awards (MAD) which recognises ordinary people who have made a difference to their communities. Talking to MAD winner, Kevin Willows, who helped set up a bereavement walking group, Grennan revealed the importance of walking to him. "If I'm ever feeling like I want to get something off my chest, if it's with friends, or my wife or my parents, I always say, 'can we go for a walk?'" said Grennan. Discussing the importance of walking and exercise, Grennan said "a walk can save a life, talking can save a life".The son of a builder revealed how growing up in Bedford meant he often found it tricky to navigate his emotional side."Little towns are very much like alpha (towns), with boys anyway, nobody wants to seem like they're weak," he was his mother who encouraged him to express his emotions, telling him "if you've got emotions then let them out, because letting them out is always the best thing". 'Lots of tears' Grennan described how on a return visit to his home town, he had open conversations with his friends about "our feelings, about what was going on and there was a lot of tears, there was a lot of laughter, those barriers were breaking down," he said."I think as friends we became closer and cut the rubbish out. "And as grown men now we can sit down and talk about what we're going through and how we can lend a hand."Grennan said being the victim of an unprovoked attack and hospitalised with a broken jaw while at university was when he first encountered being depressed."It ruined me (the attack), why did it happen to me, why did these people not like me?," he questioned at the time. It was by joining a music group, where he met his best friend, and talking as well as singing which helped him recover from the trauma. The BBC Make A Difference Awards celebrate those who make life better for others in our communities. Listen to the full broadcast of Tom Grennan meeting some of the Make a Difference heroes with Gaby Roslin. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
BBC Devon awards to honour those who make a difference
Nominations are open for the 2025 BBC Make A Difference Awards in annual BBC local radio campaign was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic to recognise the efforts of people in the local community. Volunteers, fundraisers, environmentalists and great neighbours are honoured, alongside community groups making a positive impact.2024 winner Rob Wallis, runs ChemoHero which give boxes of kindness to people beginning cancer treatment and said the award "proves we're making a difference". 'Really big impact' Based in Barnstable, ChemoHero was founded by Lisa Wallis in 2012 following her own diagnosis. The charity is now run by her husband, in her memory."Each box of kindness contains around 30-35 items that will help alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments," said Mr Wallis. He added: "We might only be a small charity, but I think we make a really big impact on patients at a really difficult time in their lives. "Sometimes we get letters thanking us, and this award proves we're making a difference." Previous winners include Shoalstone Pool in Brixham, Bideford Boxing Club, Axminster and Lyme Cancer Support, The Pickwell Foundation and the Great Parks Community Association in have also been recognised for their work volunteering for local charities, fundraising for clubs and activities, caring for friends and neighbours, and for supporting groups which bring people are eight award categories including two new awards for Active Award will recognise community sports people and Young Hero Award is open to nominations for under 16s making a positive contribution to the are able to nominate until 10 March and view the full list of categories here.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Nominations open for Cornwall's BBC Make a Difference Awards
Nominations for the 2025 BBC Make A Difference Awards (MAD) have opened for Cornwall. The BBC's annual local radio campaign, initiated during the peak of the pandemic, aims to honour the contributions of people within their fundraisers, environmentalists and outstanding neighbours are celebrated, along with community groups making a positive year's Community Project of the Year winners, Parky Blinders, went onto secure funding to run free training courses to expand across the country. Based out of Newquay Boxing Academy, the group runs adapted sessions to help people with Parkinson's disease feel included in exercise and manage the condition. 'Getting bigger and bigger' Founder Richard Power said winning the MAD award was an "amazing" part of a great year for the charity. "It's getting bigger and bigger and since then loads of people have joined the boxing academy," he said."We've expanded our coaching programme, we've created a programme with England Boxing, which is the national governing body for the sport".The £17,000 funding from Parkinson's UK and England Boxing has allowed the group to train more boxing coaches around the country."We're looking at potentially 150 coaches qualified to deliver Parkinson's boxing," Mr Power said. Ann Curtis-Clarke joined the sessions after being diagnosed with Parkinson's told BBC Radio Cornwall that it had changed her attitude towards her condition. "I had always been pretty physically active and all of a sudden I felt a real disability," she said."I turned up at Parky Blinders and I just really loved what they were doing."When I started Parky Blinders I was walking really slowly and now I'm back to walking normal pace, so it filters through to your whole life in a really beneficial way."Each BBC local radio station has 32 finalists, four in each of the eight categories, and their stories are broadcast throughout the are open until Monday 31 March, view the full list of categories here.
