Community heroes honoured for 'inspirational' work

The ceremony was held on Saturday at the Royal Armouries in Leeds

West Yorkshire's local champions have been recognised at the BBC Radio Leeds Make a Difference awards.

Among the winners were an 84-year-old woman who completed a parachute jump in support of her community centre, the director of a travel company for disabled people and a hedgehog rehabilitation centre.

The ceremony was held on Saturday at the Royal Armouries in Leeds city centre and was hosted by BBC Radio Leeds presenter Sam Nixon.

Winner of the Community Award, Nicola Holdsworth described the night as a "special" moment for her and her charity the Morley Grief Group.

"I cannot believe that we have just won this award. I'm absolutely humbled, over the moon. We're all winners in this category, but for Morley Grief Group this is so special," Ms Holdsworth said.

The ceremony featured a performance from BAFTA-nominated pianist Lucy Illingworth, from Brighouse, ahead of the release of her debut album and single.

Pianist Lucy Illingworth performed at the ceremony

Lucy won the first series of the Channel 4 show The Piano in 2023 aged 13.

Her mother Candice Flynn said the single had been written specially for Lucy by composer Debbie Wiseman.

"It's a massive honour. When Lucy plays it she plays it with such emotion," she said.

Among the guests at the awards were rugby player Rob Burrow’s wife Lindsey and their children.

Rob died in June after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019. Alongside friend and former Leeds Rhinos teammate Kevin Sinfield he helped raise more than £15m for MND charities.

Rob Burrow’s wife Lindsey and their two daughters attended the awards

BBC Make a Difference was set up during the Covid pandemic to recognise people who serve their communities and celebrate everyday, unsung heroes.

For the first time the awards introduced an Animal Award, which went to Shelley Hedgehogs.

The rescue group was founded by volunteers in 2018 to rehabilitate hedgehogs, before they are released back into the wild.

Also among this year’s winners was Joseph English who took home the Bravery Award.

In 2018 a car crash left Joseph, from Halifax, paralysed from the neck down, but, after six years of rehabilitation, he’s now the director of a travel company that helps people with physical disabilities see the world.

Benjamin Carpenter, from Huddersfield, who is a single adoptive parent to six children with additional and complex needs, was given the Carer Award.

He said: "There were so many people deserving of that award. And I'm just me. I'm so emotional."

Benjamin Carpenter was given the Carer Award

Monica Graham completed a parachute jump to raise money for a community centre

Monica Graham, 84, was honoured for her volunteer work after she helped to transform a disused primary school in Wakefield into a community centre, including doing a sponsored parachute jump to raise money for a new roof.

She said she was "gobsmacked" to win the award.

"I never thought I'd win it. When I saw the others, I thought I had no chance. It's fantastic, it's wonderful," she said.

The West Yorkshire winners were selected by a panel of local judges compromising: TV presenter Helen Skelton, comedian Leigh Francis, Paralympic athlete Kadeena Cox, Olympic diver Matty Lee, Jodie Ounsley - better known as the Gladiator ‘Fury’ - Bake-Off star and author Kim-Joy, actor and TV director Angela Griffin and documentary maker, author and disability champion, Jono Lancaster.

Nicola Holdsworth took home the Community Award

BBC Radio Leeds editor Simon Monk said he was pleased to see the "inspirational" winners finally getting the recognition they deserve.

“The Make A Difference Awards makes you realise there are amazing things happening every day in our community and we at BBC Radio Leeds feel privileged to be the ones that get to bring them into the spotlight each year,” he said.

Full list of winners

Volunteer Award - Monica Graham

Community Award - Nicola Holdsworth

Fundraiser Award - Team Serenity

Carer Award - Benjamin Carpenter

Great Neighbour Award - Niall O’Donnell

Bravery Award - Joseph English

The Green Award - Silsden Repair Cafe

The Animal Award - Shelley Hedgehogs

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