BBC win opens doors for birds of prey therapy firm

The owner of a social enterprise that uses birds of prey to enrich lives said she hasn't stopped smiling since winning a BBC award.

Berkshire Birds of Prey was the winner of the animal category at the BBC Berkshire Make a Difference Awards 2025, which were held in September.

Owner Angela Norwood said it had fostered new partnerships with similar firms.

The Community Interest Company (CIC) offers education, motivation and therapeutic interaction to children and adults in the Thames Valley and west London areas.

Norwood said: "Winning the award for us as a group was amazing... I just cannot explain how it made me feel.

"When you're even nominated for it, it gets you to think about how much you do for people or how much of a difference you are making."

"Since having the award, it's built my confidence, my self-esteem.

"It's helped me to be able to reach out to a lot more other CICs and charities... and we've got some really good partnerships going."

The award has also boosted the confidence of the firm's young volunteers, Norwood added.

She is urging others to submit nominations for the Make a Difference Awards 2026.

"Just do it – absolutely do it.

"For me personally, I suffer with depression and anxiety… and it truly has helped me personally, let alone the amount of people we've been able to help since the award that we haven't been able to reach for whatever reason.

"People have reached out to us now asking us to support them and work with different people.

"That in itself is just an amazing feeling."

Sport Together Berkshire, a CIC founded in 2023, brings sports clubs and communities together to deliver inclusive, multi-sport festivals for people with additional needs.

Co-founder Craig Hunter said the events, that are held five or six times a year, are for anyone with perceived barriers stopping them from playing mainstream sport, whether that's a disability or a lack of confidence.

"Whoever wants to have a go, they're more than welcome to have a go," he said.

Hunter said winning the award was "fantastic" adding "it's not only us and the people who organise it, it's the volunteers and more importantly it's the kids who get involved and the adults, and they time and time come back again."

He said that it's "uplifting" to see the impact Sport Together Berkshire is having, adding that what the group is doing is "much needed".

"It's just brilliant, we're putting everybody together," he said.

He is also urging others to submit nominations for this year's awards.

"If they're not sure, just do it because it really does make a difference for the people you're nominating and enables them to promote what they're doing more successfully."

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 live.

Every BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in 2026.

The awards are a chance to say "thank you" and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for others.

Nominations can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice.