Latest news with #BBCMakeaDifference
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Titchfield BBC award winner keeps people dancing for 40 years
As a dozen couples twirl on to the floor Pauline Steels tells them: "The next dance is the Tina Tango."Pauline may look an unlikely DJ, but she has been running weekly tea dances like this one at the Titchfield Community Centre in Hampshire, for 40 doing so she has raised more than £90,000 to support local community centres and last year won the BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference fundraiser award. Nominations are currently open for the 2025 awards. The Tuesday afternoon dances are regularly attended by up to 40 people. Pauline also runs a monthly Saturday night dance which is an even bigger draw - with up to 80 Carter and his wife Carol are often among them, "they're brilliant nights, good dancing, good music and it's very friendly here," says George. "It keeps you fit as well," adds and Chris Birch learnt ballroom dancing when they retired and are also now regulars at Pauline's dances. "Pauline plays the right sort of music for everybody to do the dances to," says Mervyn. "We've been to other dances around the county and for one reason or another it is never quite the same as the one Pauline puts on." Some of the dancers accompanied Pauline to the awards ceremony in September and were thrilled when she won. Chris was one of them: "I don't think anyone was as surprised as Pauline was."She didn't think she would get it. "We were really pleased for her because she's done an awful lot of work in the community to keep it going and give these people here something to do - they love to dance."Pauline's husband was unable to accompany her to the awards due to ill health, but cried with joy when she told him the news. The award now has pride of place on their was nominated by one of the community centres she fundraises for. Although she was delighted to win, she says she never did it for any recognition: "I do it for the community centres and my people, that's what I do it for. "I get the pleasure out of running it myself as well, so it's brilliant really."The regulars say they cannot remember a time when Pauline has missed a session and there is no sign of her hanging up her microphone just yet. The Make a Difference Awards recognise people, across eight different categories, who are making a difference where they BBC Local Radio station will host awards in is a chance to say thank you to people who make life better for can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy close on the 31st March 2025 at 17:00. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
BBC award winning chickpea project promotes British values
"Imagine you are a chickpea," says the speaker. A hall full of children at John Henry Newman primary school in Oxford are eagerly listening. "Would you rather be in a soup, a salad, or a Noah's pudding?"This is not a cookery lesson, but a scheme which teaches children about the values of equality, diversity and inclusion. The initiative, called Life of a Chickpea, is now planning to expand after it won a BBC Make a Difference award. It was devised by Mahmut Gunaydin, who leads the Oxford branch of The Dialogue Society, a charity which promotes social cohesion. He was awarded the BBC Radio Oxford Community Award for his work. Nominations are currently open for the 2025 BBC Make a Difference Awards. Stacked up to the side of the hall are piles of Noah's puddings. The pudding is a mixture of 10 different ingredients - as well as chickpeas, it includes pomegranates, apples, apricots and barley. The Life of a Chickpea programme uses the pudding as a metaphor for society. "The pudding shows we can be different but come together without losing our shape, our taste, our identity," explains Mahmut. Life of a Chickpea also tries to reinforce British Values, which have been a core part of the school curriculum since 2014. Eleven-year-old Jesse is among the pupils listening."It told us that the Noah's pudding expresses all five British values, because although all the ingredients are different, they bring the best out in each other."Siddiqa, 10, recounts the story of where the pudding came from."On Noah's ark, they all got very hungry after surviving the flood, and they just got every food that they had and they put it together to make the Noah's pudding."Mahmut explains that the story is known in a number of religions. "It's in The Quran, Bible and Torah," he says. The session is led by volunteers from The Dialogue Society, but children also get to hear from faith leaders, on this occasion from the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities."It was great for the children to see leaders from all different types of faiths," teacher Klarisa Dani says."I think children often view them as separate religions and actually they do all come together and share a similar belief."Mahmut won the BBC Make a Difference Award in September. "After that recognition, our Life of a Chickpea project had more impact in the region," he says."We've had more schools wanting to be involved in the project in Oxford, and we are planning to expand throughout Oxfordshire."Session over, and Jesse, Siddiqa and their classmates are taking home with them valuable lessons - and the best bit, their Noah's puddings. The Make a Difference Awards recognise people, across eight different categories, who are making a difference where they BBC Local Radio station will host awards in is a chance to say thank you to people who make life better for can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy close on the 31st March 2025 at 17:00. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Make a Difference Awards: A day in the life of therapy horse
There cannot be many horses that can fit in a lift, or would be happy to travel in one, but Mr Kelloggs takes it all in his stride. The 10-year-old British miniature horse works as a therapy animal, and the lift he is reversing into is at Eagles Mount Care Home in Poole. Last year, Mr Kelloggs won a BBC Make a Difference Animal Award, which is given to an animal that has a positive impact on people's lives, or to someone who works with animals to improve animal welfare. Nominations are now open for this year's awards. As the small horse starts his tour of Eagles Mount, first visiting residents who cannot easily move out of their rooms, it is clear to see why he is a worthy winner. Bringing back memories for Malcolm First Mr Kelloggs visits married couple Malcolm and Beryl, and Malcolm is very keen to feed him some biscuits. His owner Megan Gledhill politely explains that is not allowed. Then Malcolm comes out with a revelation: "My dad used to show horses, all through the summer."He went from Bournemouth, to Harrogate, Leeds, Manchester city ground, he trained them." The care home staff said they never knew this about him. "It's amazing, the joy it brings to them," says Alison Williams, who is responsible for wellbeing at the home and organised the visit. "It brings back so many memories of when they had their own pets, and we've heard stories today that we've never heard before, about people that kept horses, and we never knew that about them," she adds. Kisses for Eileen Next it is the turn of Eileen and Ray. "Come here baby, give us a kiss," says Eileen. Obediently, Mr Kelloggs edges closer and lifts his nose to Eileen's face for a kiss. Eileen is delighted: "That's it Ray, you're dumped now", the staff is a wrench for Eileen when it it time for Mr Kelloggs to leave, but another visit is promised. The tour continues into the rooms of Lesley and Mary. "What's his name?" Mary asks, but she is not impressed with the reply."No, that's not a nice name for a beautiful darling like you," she tells him. Megan explains that Mr Kelloggs got his name because he was born in Wales close to the site of one of the factories of the cereal manufacturer. Lesley's face lights up when Mr Kelloggs enters her room. It brings back memories of a time she rode a is clear to see the impact he has on the residents, and it is the reason why he won a BBC Make a Difference award. Megan's mum Sharon Gledhill, who helps her to run Linking Hearts Therapy Horses, says it is a privilege to do what they do. "A lot of people, especially the people that are bedbound, they're not going to get a chance to go out into the forest and see a horse and be so close to a horse," she says. After touring the rooms, it is time to visit other residents in the lounge. Mr Kelloggs spends at least half an hour in there, meeting everyone individually. As he approaches each person, he is greeted with a big smile. "It's the sensory experience, they get to hug and kiss him and stroke him," says Sharon. "It just brightens them up and puts a spark in their day again." How to nominate The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people, across eight different categories, who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in awards are a chance to say thank you and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy close on the 31st March 2025 at 17:00. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Make a Difference: Diversity project to expand after win
A man who won a BBC Make a Difference award for his work promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in schools now hopes to roll the programme Gunaydin won the community award for his voluntary work with the Dialogue Society which aims to advance social Life of a Chickpea project follows a chickpea's journey as a metaphor for British values of democracy, individual liberty and mutual respect, and he hopes he can now take it to schools in other towns in the county. Meanwhile, Sue Holden, who won the great neighbour award, has urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards as it can "affect a whole community". Nominations close on 31 March. Mr Gunaydin was selected as the winner by the actor Jeremy Irons, which he said was an "unexpected but brilliant" moment."It made me want to do more at a local level to promote these three key concepts of equality, diversity and inclusion," he said. "I think it's the best way to overcome division in our society."Lof of a Chickpea follows a chickpea's journey as a metaphor for understanding societal models, British values,He said winning the BBC award for Oxfordshire had raised the profile of the project, resulting in more inquiries from schools wanting to run the programme. Mrs Holden won her award her community work Barton for 53 years. After retiring as the local newsagent in 2006, she took on a role at Barton Community Association community said: "I get a real buzz out of making a difference to people's lives."Mrs Holden helps organise activities and events, including free youth clubs, exercise classes, subsidised coach trips and a community larder. She said the award recognised the contribution of the whole team which worked "to breathe oxygen into the building, and make it come alive".Participation in exercise classes at the centre has "gone through the roof" since news of the award win was posted on the community association's newsletter and website, she Holden urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards if they knew someone deserving. "Please go ahead and do it because your nomination will make a difference to not just one person's life but it can affect a whole community. "Don't hesitate, you'll make somebody very happy." How to nominate The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people, across eight different categories, who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in awards are a chance to say "thank you" and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
BBC Make a Difference: Repair cafe to expand after award win
A team of DIY enthusiasts who set up a group to fix household items and save them from going to landfill is preparing to expand after winning a BBC award. Winchester Repair Cafe was the winner of the green category at the BBC Radio Solent Make A Difference Awards, held in King, one of the trustees, said winning had made an "amazing" difference to the charity. Meanwhile, Pauline Steel has urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards after it had made her feel "so proud" to have won the fundraiser award last year. Nominations close on 31 March. The cafe, which started just over a year ago, runs once a month on a Saturday at Badger Farm Community is now preparing to expand with the team planning to start a number of pop-up cafes in surrounding villages. Mr King said: "It started off quite small but we're quite busy now and [are] almost having to push things away because we're getting so busy, but that's good news really."The team still do not know who nominated them for the award and said it was "quite overwhelming" to actually win. "The recognition to the volunteers, in terms of the work that they've done here, it's really kind of fluffed their feathers with pride to think that they've been recognised," Mr King said."It's helped us in terms of our applications for grant funding, so the fact that we've got that award has strengthened our position so we can get more grants." Forty years of tea dances Mrs Steel won the fundraiser award in recognition of her commitment in running weekly tea dances, which have raised more than £90,000 to keep local community centres running. She has been hosting the dances in Titchfield and Gosport for the last forty years and said she "loves putting a smile on people's faces". "The idea of it is to keep these people fit as well - they love it," she was nominated for the award by staff at Titchfield Community Centre but said she never expected to win. "I went like jelly - I couldn't believe it," she said."I thought I've got to get up and I couldn't stand up... I've never won anything so it was absolutely wonderful."My husband cried when I rung him - he couldn't believe it, he cried with excitement."She said people should consider putting others forward for this year's award, whether they end up winning or not. "It's a lovely feeling to think you've been recognised for the work you've done," she said. "I just feel so proud, to think that I've done something." How to nominate The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people, across eight different categories, who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in awards are a chance to say "thank you" and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
