Local heroes celebrated at Make a Difference Awards

The winners of the Make a Difference Awards gathered for the ceremony at Oxford Town Hall

A young writer, a fitness instructor and a therapy dog were among the winners at an award ceremony celebrating local heroes.

The BBC Radio Oxford Make a Difference Awards had eight categories and recognised those who love to make life better for others.

More than 10 million people have engaged with Make a Difference across BBC radio stations to date.

Winners for Oxfordshire were crowned by a panel of judges and received their awards at a ceremony at Oxford Town Hall.

Volunteer - Don Ferris

Don Ferris won the award for his work helping children to read

Don Ferris volunteers with Bicester-based charity Assisted Reading For Children (ARCh) and helps tutor three youngsters who need help with reading at a primary school.

After picking up the Volunteer award, he said: "I feel a bit of a fraud, I have all the fun but the people who set up the charity ARCh have done the hard work.

"I'd say thank you for giving me the opportunity of having so much fun," he said.

Mr Ferris also volunteers as a driver taking patients to hospital and helps people get to grips with IT at his local library.

Young Hero - Sylvie

Sylvie won the Youth award for her fundraising efforts

Sylvie wrote a story about her time in hospital to help other children worried about going into hospital.

Oxford Hospitals Charity used the story - about Sylvie's superpowers in hospital - for its social media Christmas campaign which raised £20,000.

She also completed a Readathon at her school which raised £1,500 to buy books for her school and the hospital children's ward.

Great Neighbour - Margo Evans

Margo Evans won the Great Neighbour award

Margo Evans won the Great Neighbour award. She began checking on her 92-year-old neighbour when he was feeling isolated during the Covid lockdowns and she continues to ring him every day.

She also takes another neighbour in Hinton Waldrist to a community club and their hairdressers every week.

The former primary school teacher also runs the village's monthly film night and helps organise the regular village lunch as well as stalls at the summer village fete.

"I didn't expect it - its amazing to be recognised for doing something useful, " she said.

Active - Janette Cardy

Janette Cardy won the Active award

Janette Cardy worked in the fitness industry for more than 20 years and after her own health issues, noticed a gap in the market helping women from perimenopause through to postmenopause.

She has produced a series of free online flexible work outs, recipes, talks and life coaching.

"This was my opportunity to make a difference to women and give them a voice," she said.

Winning the Make a Difference Active Award was "amazing", she added.

Animal - Monty the dog

Monty regularly visits care homes and clubs for the elderly

Monty, along with his owner Mike Pritchard, visits three elderly care homes and clubs each week.

They spend time mingling and chatting with residents - and Monty collects lots of strokes and pats.

Mr Pritchard said: "He's the ideal therapy dog - when we arrive in a care home, you almost feel the place lift - residents and staff - because this little chap is on board.

He said he was "absolutely thrilled" with the Aninal award.

"All the other animals have all their qualities - to have won it is just terrific

"Monty is thrilled too - he's just had whisper in my ear."

Fundraiser - Hollie Benson and team

Hollie Benson and her family and friends raise money for the Silver Star maternity fund.

Along with family members and friends, Hollie Benson holds a weekly market stall and participates in fun days, fetes, carnivals and other events to raise money for the Silver Star maternity fund.

The funds help to pay for specialised equipment and treatments for families who need additional help and support with high risk pregnancies.

She started fundraising for the charity after she benefited from its support during her own complicated pregnancy.

"You feel like we've got more from them than we could ever give back.

"We know we worked hard, but its just incredible to be noticed by everyone and knowing that we are making a difference," she said

Green - Oxford Wood Recycling

Richard Snow accepted the award on behalf of Oxford Wood Recycling

Oxford Wood Recycling was set up as a social enterprise to collect wood waste from construction sites and from businesses producing packaging or wood offcuts.

Reclaimed wood is returned to the Wood Shop in Abingdon where it is prepared for re-sale

The commercial service provides a more economic and greener alternative to a skip and sustains eight jobs. An estimated 25,000 tonnes of wood has been diverted from landfill.

The charity has also recently started a Community Shed in Abingdon, centred addressing social isolation and poor mental health.

Founder and chief executive Richard Snow said: "We just get on with what we do every day. It's great to be recognised especially as a community award - I think that's really special."

Community Group - Nai's House

Karen Sexton accepted the award on behalf of Gem Barrett

Nai's House is a mental health and suicide prevention charity supporting young people aged 5-30 in Bicester and beyond.

It was set up by Gem Barrett, the mother of Dené (Nai) who struggled with poor mental health and took her own life aged 22.

It provides one-to-one support to more than 100 people as well as offering out-of-hours crisis intervention services.

Additionally, it also offers group support to parents and carers.

Karen Sexton from the charity said: "Now we're extending what we do in the community with lots of different workshops for people who are struggling - we have diversified quite a lot and expanded."