Latest news with #BBCMakeaDifferenceAwards
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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.
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sally Gunnell announced as judge for BBC Make a Difference Awards
Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell is set to be a judge for the BBC Make a Difference Awards (MADA). The ex-track and field athlete, who lives near Brighton, will help choose the winner of the new active category, awarded to individuals or groups who have used sport or physical activity to improve the lives of others in the the winner "is going to be very tricky," she told BBC Radio Sussex. "But I want to see somebody that's doing that little bit extra for somebody else." Ms Gunnell, who set a world record in the woman's 400m hurdles in 1993, said there were "so many different options" judges wanted to hear about. She suggested nominees could be helping communities through sport, keeping people active, or anyone who has done "something incredible" like raising money for charity through physical is "everything for our health", Ms Gunnell added, highlighting its positive social and mental effects. "It's so important." MADA is a BBC initiative to honour community champions across eight different categories. To nominate someone go to the Make A Difference site, with nominations closing at 17:00 BST on 31 March.
