Local heroes in Make a Difference Awards final

The young founder of a football club and dogs that help people with PTSD are among the finalists for an award ceremony which celebrates local heroes.

BBC Radio Solent's Make a Difference Awards has eight categories, recognising those who love to make life better for others.

To date, more than 10 million people have got involved in Make a Difference across BBC local radio stations.

Winners for BBC Radio Solent will be selected by a panel of judges and will be crowned at a special event on 9 September.

Leo Moseley from Bournemouth, Dorset says he is "proud" to be nominated for the young hero award.

He set up a visually impaired football team called "Vision Warriors," and was put forward for the award by the club.

The nine-year-old who is blind in his right eye and has cataracts in his left eye was inspired by his own experience.

He said his highlight is getting to see other "people smiling and having fun".

A Portsmouth based charity which supports people with PTSD has been nominated for the animal award.

Service Dogs UK works with the Dogs Trust to train rescue animals to help retired veterans from the military and emergency services.

Garry Botterill set the charity up in 2015, he said people with PTSD struggle with their self-esteem and having a dog gives them "a sense of purpose, structure in their lives and a sense of achievement".

Pete is one of those to benefit from the organisation, which put him in touch with his dog Rufus.

"It's been life-saving for me and life-changing and I know both me and my whole family can never thank them enough," he said.

On the Isle of Wight Sailability has been helping people with disabilities to get out on the water.

"It takes people with a wide range of disabilities sailing and once they're on the boat their disability disappears really," says Trish Rooke, the Vice Commodore and fundraiser for the Cowes based club.

She says the 48 volunteers that help to make everything smooth sailing have been "amazing".

Faye is one of the volunteers who also lives with disability. She nominated the club for the active award in BBC Radio Solent's Make a Difference Awards.

"Being out on the water I can just forget about my disabilities and just sail and be like a normal person," she said.

Annie Gould and her partner Ben from New Milton, founded the charity Elsie's Rose in memory of their daughter who died in 2021.

Mrs Gould said it was a "lonely" time after their daughter died and they set up the charity to help other bereaved parents who might also feel isolated.

Over the years they have raised money for the charity and also for Southampton's Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Elsie's Rose was nominated for the fundraising award in recognition of their efforts.

Volunteer

• Karen Hamilton
• Margaret Stoppard
• Ali Beg
• Sophie Clark

Community Group

• Space Youth Project
• Castleman Community Larder
• Storeroom 2010
• Enable Ability

Fundraiser

• Paula Winter,
• Elsie's Rose patrons and trustees
• Andrew Beardmore
• Caroline Mousdale

Great Neighbour

• Andy Simpson
• Tony Weafer
• Melody Willers
• Celia Pickworth

Young Hero

• Emberly Heppenstall
• Leo Mosley (Vision Warriors)
• Meredith Hibberd
• Sophia Hill

Green

• Win on Waste
• Jenny Hunter
• Friends of Bartley Park
• Gardening Group at The Treehouse

Animal

• Service Dogs UK
• Emily Bentham
• Basil Rogers
• Cleo

Active

• Kimberley Purkis, Romsey
• Cowes Sailability Club
• Lucy Tillotson
• Charly Keith of Ringwood Riders

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