How a Make A Difference award changed my life
BBCNominations have opened for the BBC Make a Difference Awards 2026 in Cornwall.
The campaign is a chance to celebrate those who make life better for others in Cornwall's communities.
The categories include Great Neighbour, Young Hero, and Environmental, and the nomination period closes on 31 March.
The annual BBC local radio initiative launched at the height of the Covid pandemic.
We have been talking to some of the past winners from the last four years to find out what the accolade has meant to them.
'Nice to be acknowledged'
Sheila Ritchie, 77, from Truro, has fostered more than 100 children and young people.
She won the Carer award in 2022, the very first year of the BBC Make A Difference Awards.
Four years on, she is still caring for children who need a temporary home.
Ritchie said: "You just look after them as if they're your own, and I think as long as you do that, you can't do any more, can you?
"Let's face it, families have their problems, all families have their problems... you do the best you can for them and help them."
She is encouraging people in Cornwall to think about nominating someone in their community for the 2026 awards.
She said: "There are an awful lot of people out there who are doing lots of really kind things that go unnoticed.
"I can't tell you how nice it is to be acknowledged."
'It means a lot to me'
"The children are good as gold, the parents are nice", said Richard Northey, who won the Great Neighbour award in 2025 for his work in Chacewater, which included being the school crossing patrol officers.
"I dress up for the weather, I've got my oilers and boots and all," he laughed.
Richard said he'd gone through three 'lollipop' signs in the 16 years he'd been volunteering, including one "that got smashed up when I got hit".
After news of his Make A Diference Award spread, local children sent messages to the 81-year-old.
Richard said the school made him a thank you card.
"I cried when they gave it to me".
He said he loves being in the "community and waving to passers-by".
"Any amount of them do know who I am and they wave and shout out 'congratulations on the award.
"I have a cup of tea with a family who live near where I stand on patrol, another chap buys a sausage roll for me, he goes into the bakery every day," he smiled.
'We can keep this going for years to come'
In 2025, the Active Award was introduced for an individual or group of people who have used physical activity or sport as a way of improving the lives of those in their community.
The award was the start of a whirlwind of success for Cornwall's first disability cricket team, the Cornwall Super 9s.
Within days of receiving the trophy, the club received offers of help and support from individuals and the local business community.
An online appeal together with match funding has given them more than £12,000 of investment.
'A phenomenal story'
Daniel Tonkin, the disability head coach for Cornwall Cricket, said the award had been a "game changer" ahead of their 2026 season.
"We have seven new players through this process who are currently training with the squad," he said.
"It highlights how we've put a good structure in place and we can keep this going for years to come.
"We've cemented a pathway for some of our older players to go and get trained.
"So by the start of the season we will have two new coaches qualified and we've got two players who have gone on to do the umpire courses.
"What a phenomenal story, not only are we doing things with cricket, we're giving them a pathway outside cricket."
The eight categories for the BBC Make a Difference Awards 2026 are:
- The Volunteer Award
- The Young Hero Award
- The Great Neighbour Award
- The Active Award
- The Animal Award
- The Environmental Award
- The Fundraiser Award
- The Community Group Award
Nominations close at 17:00 BST on 31 March 2026.
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