Latest news with #BBCMakeaDifferenceAwards
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Cumnock teen shortlisted as a finalist at BBC Make a Difference Awards
Lochlan Murdoch is recognised for setting up his charity to help raise awareness and understanding of Type 1 Diabetes. An inspirational teenager from Cumnock has been shortlisted as a finalist at this year's prestigious BBC Make a Difference Awards. Lochlan Murdoch, 16, is one of four finalists for The Active Award. He was nominated for raising both funds and awareness of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and mental health over the past five years, using sport as a focal point for making others feel safe and understood. Winners will be announced at the BBC Make a Difference Awards in Scotland ceremony in Glasgow next month, with results announced on September 29 on BBC Radio Scotland's 'Mornings' with Kaye Adams. Kaye Adams said: "I am absolutely thrilled to be presenting the BBC Make a Difference Awards in Scotland. The stories of kindness, courage, and community spirit from every corner of the country are nothing short of inspiring. "A massive congratulations to all the nominees and our fantastic finalists. You are all making Scotland proud. I cannot wait to celebrate with you and reveal the winners this September." Lochlan is an iWill Ambassador, Quality in Care Diabetes Award winner, Points of Light Award winner and in 2023 received the extremely prestigious British Citizen youth Award for services to community. He shared with Ayrshire Live: "I am very proud that I've made it to the final at this year's BBC Make a Difference Awards. "I am proud of my work, but then it gets recognised at this level, it just shows that I am doing the right thing." Lochlan has lived with T1D since the age of four. Despite the life-changing diagnosis, Lochlan remained determined and positive. He faced challenges with a smile, tackling finger pricks, insulin injections, and more while keeping a football at his feet. While talking about his condition, Lochlan said: "It's never easy, it is T1D at the end of the day. Some days could be amazing, some days could be hard. "I am using Dexcom technology at the moment, and it helps a lot, but there are days that can be challenging. I just do my best to get on with it." In May 2018, Lochlan suffered a severe leg break whilst playing football which he found very mentally challenging in recovery. In December 2019, he organised a charity event called Lochlan's Stadium Marathon to help raise awareness of T1D and mental health. He walked 28 miles in four days around all the Premiership football stadiums in Scotland, Hampden and Townhead Park, less than a year after injury. This event raised £10,500. He then attended 10 Downing Street to meet the then Prime Minister Theresa May and had an opportunity to share his story. Lochlan said: "Then we got invited to 10 Downing Street we also met Dr Naresh Kanumilli. He said that he's been following my story and that I need to keep going and that I can't stop there. "On the train home, I said to my mum that I think we need to do something and that's when the idea of my charity came up." At just 11-years-old, he set up his charity to help raise awareness and understanding of T1D, breakdown barriers, reduce stigma and build community Lochlan's Legacy was established as a Scottish registered charity in October 2020, with the help from Lochlan's mum Lesley who is now a charity manager and co-founder. Lesley said: "The pride that we feel for this boy is something we just can't quite put into words. He's had a really tough few years but I always say this, turning adversity into positivity is something that I'll be forever proud of Lochlan for. "To come away five years later, since the charity was launched, and to see where we've got by sharing Lochlan's story, the highs and lows of T1D, makes us very proud. It is great to encourage a lot of other young people in sport, to encourage coaches to learn more about the condition and to make a difference. "I think that's the one thing that keeps us going when the charity does get hard and it's difficult to find funding, but we just push through, because at the end of the day, T1D is something that we are very passionate about as we live with it day in and day out. "We as a family battle the challenges of this condition all the time, if we can make a difference to another family or another young person by sharing Lochlan's story or by them speaking to Lochlan, that's exactly what keeps us going and I know that's what really pushes Lochlan forward." Lochlan's Legacy has built a big team over the five years, including ambassadors, patrons and trustees, with Lochlan's dad Scott being a current chair. While talking about running a charity with his parents, Lochlan said: "My mum and dad have always helped me and still do. "Me and my mum also have a really close relationship. While working together, if there is a problem, I can talk to my mum and if I have any ideas I know I can tell her and she will help me to plan." Lesley added: "As Lochlan says, he is the boss. When we go into primary schools, the kids all love that Lochlan, who is only 16 is my boss, and has been since he was 11. "We are a very close-knit family and we do a lot of thing together and running the charity is just part of that. "It is not just myself, Lochlan and my husband Scott that runs this. We have a huge amount of support from our board, advisors to the board and our youth lead. It is a huge team effort from all of us to take Lochlan's and our youth group ideas and push forward in what the charity wants to do. "But it can be a lot. I think one of the things that can be quite challenging, as Lochlan lives with T1D and our charity is all about the condition, I often think that he needs some time away from just talking about T1D because it's self encompassing. "We do make effort to do things as a family that are not linked to T1D and I think that's very important to keep the balance of running the charity and normal family life as well."
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Concert to raise money for cardiac screenings
A fundraising concert has been organised in memory of an eight-year-old boy who died from a cardiac arrest. Jasper Cook, from Birkenshaw, died in January 2022, three days after he fell ill with Covid-19. His parents, Kim and Ian Cook, said money raised from the event would be used to help fund cardiac screenings for young people. The event comes after Mrs Cook was nominated in the fundraiser category for this year's BBC Radio Leeds Make a Difference Awards. "My whole ethos behind what we've been doing in Jasper's name is, the more people I can reach, the more money I can raise, the more young hearts I can screen, the more people I can stop being in this terrible position," she said. "We have already now done three days and tested nearly 300 young people between the ages of 14 and 35." Since her son's death Mrs Cook has completed a number of fundraising challenges and events, including skydiving. The concert, taking place at St Paul's Church later, in Birkenshaw, will feature a choir from Birkenshaw primary school, as well as singers from St Paul's and the BBG Academy. It will also feature the first public performance of a song written by in memory of Jasper by his friend and her father, called A Song for Jasper. Mrs Cook said: "It's been a really difficult few years, but we are I think pulling through. "I think what we've been doing with the heart screening has really given us a little bit of focus. The BBC Make a Difference Awards are organised to thank and recognise people who want to improve the lives of people in the communities where they live, with the winners due to be announced at a ceremony in Bradford on 13 September Mrs Cook was nominated by a family friend who said: "It is truly remarkable that the family, despite their utter grief in dealing with the tragic loss of their young son, are honouring his memory by doing all that they can to prevent other families having to go through what they have suffered." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Free heart checks in memory of eight-year-old boy Cardiac Risk in the Young
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Pram appeal as Coventry baby bank sees rising demand
A city baby bank has issued an urgent appeal for prams and baby travel systems after seeing increasing demand from people in need. Baby Godiva was set up to support families with young children struggling to afford essentials. The organisation collects and sorts items donated by the community before distributing them. But chief executive Kate Wilson said it was down to its last handful of pushchairs and bosses needed more support. "We've given away 32 [pushchairs] this year already so we're averaging about ten a month to families in need," she told BBC CWR. "We're working with a lot of teenage pregnancies, care leavers and people fleeing domestic abuse who just have nothing and need a lot of help when they're pregnant." The charity, which has been recognised by the BBC Make a Difference Awards, was launched in 2019. Its founder Belle Edgar-McCabe had been at a family hub when she heard about a young mother who could not afford nappies. Since then, workers and volunteers have helped hundreds of families and linked up with midwives, health visitors and social workers to support even Wilson said there were a number of different reasons why demand had risen. "I think some of it is the cost of living crisis," she explained. "We're all in the pinch right now and babies are very expensive. "Some of it is [because] we are trying to really promote the charity at the moment and tell people we are out there and can help. "It does lead to a need of more items." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ray Mears to judge BBC's Make a Difference Awards
Survival expert Ray Mears will join MPs Nusrat Ghani and Monica Harding to judge this year's BBC Make a Difference Awards in Surrey and Sussex. The awards have been running for 14 years and recognise individuals and groups who make a difference to people living locally. Ray will be judging this year's fundraiser category, while Esher and Walton MP Ms Harding judges the volunteer category and Sussex Weald MP Ms Ghani judges the community group category. "I am delighted to be a judge, it is a real honour, and choosing winners is never an easy task as there are always so many worthy candidates," said Ray. "Learning of their achievements, sacrifices and contributions is a very special experience, one that restores my faith in our society." Ms Harding said she had seen first-hand how volunteers made a positive difference in her constituency. "Whether it's helping to prevent loneliness, cleaning up litter, creating activities for young people or befriending the elderly, volunteers help to put the heart into our community," she said. Ms Ghani said the work by volunteers in her community was often overlooked. "It's a fantastic way of recognising brilliant people and gives us a moment to say thank you," she said. The Make a Difference Awards is a BBC initiative to honour community champions across eight different categories. To nominate someone go to the Make a Difference Awards site, with nominations closing at 17:00 BST on 31 March. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. New judge announced for Make a Difference Awards Make a Difference Awards
BBC News
31-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Survival expert Ray Mears to judge BBC's Make a Difference Awards
Survival expert Ray Mears will join MPs Nusrat Ghani and Monica Harding to judge this year's BBC Make a Difference Awards in Surrey and awards have been running for 14 years and recognise individuals and groups who make a difference to people living will be judging this year's fundraiser category, while Esher and Walton MP Ms Harding judges the volunteer category and Sussex Weald MP Ms Ghani judges the community group category."I am delighted to be a judge, it is a real honour, and choosing winners is never an easy task as there are always so many worthy candidates," said Ray. "Learning of their achievements, sacrifices and contributions is a very special experience, one that restores my faith in our society."Ms Harding said she had seen first-hand how volunteers made a positive difference in her constituency."Whether it's helping to prevent loneliness, cleaning up litter, creating activities for young people or befriending the elderly, volunteers help to put the heart into our community," she Ghani said the work by volunteers in her community was often overlooked."It's a fantastic way of recognising brilliant people and gives us a moment to say thank you," she Make a Difference Awards is a BBC initiative to honour community champions across eight different nominate someone go to the Make a Difference Awards site, with nominations closing at 17:00 BST on 31 March.
