Young Hero Emily among community award winners

A young girl is seen smiling directly at the camera in front of a purple back drop. She is holding up two fingers in a peace sign, and is holding a BBC Radio Humberside Make a Difference Award for The Young Hero category. She is wearing a pink glittery dress, and wears her hair in a side plait. There is a cochlear implant on her right ear.Charlie O'Loughlin/BBC

Emily Andrews, one of the winners of the BBC Radio Humberside Make A Difference Awards

Jess Lord and Charlie O'Loughlin
East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

A six-year-old girl who got British Sign Language boards installed in her local parks is among the worthy winners of the 2025 BBC Radio Humberside Make A Difference Awards.

Emily Andrews, who is profoundly deaf, worked with Goole Town Council on the project to help others - a feat that earned her the Young Hero award at the celebration of community heroes held in Scunthorpe on Wednesday evening.

Her mother, Tanya Andrews, said: "She's so confident. I feel like she's just going to go places."

Other winners included Eileen Harland, who won the Great Neighbour award, and Katy Smith, who won the Fundraiser award for setting up a teenage suicide prevention charity.

Six-year-old Emily Andrews was crowned Young Hero at the Make A Difference Awards

The winners of eight awards were announced in a ceremony at The Baths Hall, hosted by BBC Radio Humberside presenters Kofi Smiles and Carla Greene.

Judges included singer-songwriter Calum Scott, comedian and actor Lloyd Griffith and BBC Look North's Peter Levy.

Ms Smith, who set up Ruben's Voice, said: "I'm really shocked. People have done wonderful things and I didn't expect to win. It's not really about me, it's about the people who come along to the events and so many people have supported us and it's really amazing."

She said the charity was about "starting conversations" with family and friends.

Katy Smith, a woman with shoulder length, brown hair, is holding her Make A Difference award in her left hand. In her right hand, she is holding a framed photograph of her late son Ruben who is wearing a red sports top. Charlie O'Loughlin/BBC

Katy Smith set up Ruben's Voice, a suicide prevention charity, in memory of her son

Ms Smith brought along a photograph of her son. On the reverse, were Ruben's ashes.

She said: "He would be absolutely mortified that Mum's been up on stage, and would think I'm so embarrassing."

Explaining her decision to set up the charity, Ms Smith said: "There are loads and loads of charities that pick up the pieces after tragedies happen. What we're trying to do is head [that] off before the tragedy happens so that people can join in and be part of something.

"I don't want other people to feel like this because it's not nice. I just miss my son."

A woman with short, cropped blonde hair smiles at the camera. She is in front of a purple back drop reading: 'Make a Difference' and 'BBC Radio Humberside'. She wears a gold, brown and green striped scarf and had a brown waistcoat and long sleeved top underneath. In her hands is a purple Make a Difference Award reading 'Winner'.

Great Neighbour winner Eileen Harland paints over graffiti, sweeps up leaves and gives out produce from her allotment

Creative Start Arts In Health CIC won the Community Award. Through creative projects, the group helps people deal with addiction.

Among its projects is Paint the Town Proud, which works with North East Lincolnshire Council to create murals in Grimsby and Cleethorpes

Naomi Beardsley, who joined the group five years ago, said: "I started as a client, and I've just worked my way up.

"I always had to put the mask on, but when I walked through the doors of Creative Start, it became home. Everybody treats me for who I am. We're not judgmental, we're just caring and loving."

A large blue painting displayed on a brick wall. The mural details the words: "Welcome to Grimsby Docks" in bold black and red writing. Alongside the words- there is a bearded fisherman holding a large fish to the right. There are also silhouettes of boats and trawlers at the bottom of the wall. The mural is next to a red bricked building with a white and black poster on- the words are illegible. Creative Start Arts In Health CIC

A mural that forms part of the Paint the Town Proud project

The winners of BBC Radio Humberside Make A Difference 2025 are:

  • Volunteer Award - an individual who makes a notable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help others. Winner: Pamela Trays from Hull

  • Young Hero Award - someone under 16 who has made a positive impact in their community or achieved something exceptional. Winner: Emily Andrews from Goole

  • Great Neighbour Award - an individual who helps to make the neighbourhood a better place to live or work, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness. Winner: Eileen Harland from Hull

  • Active Award - 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. Winner: Jim Dunn from Hull

  • Animal Award - an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people. Or, a person or group of people working with animals to improve animal welfare. Winner: Kate Coulam for Petsville Farm, Barton-upon-Humber

  • Green Award - an individual or group of people who help to make where we live more environmentally friendly and better for nature. Winner: Martin King for Rooted, Hull

  • Fundraiser Award - an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause. Winner: Katy Smith for Ruben's Voice, Hedon

  • Community Group Award supported by BBC Morning Live - awarded to a group of people who have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within their community. Winner: Creative Start Arts In Health CIC, Grimsby

BBC Make A Difference began during the coronavirus pandemic as a way to connect those who needed help and support.

You can listen to all of the stories from BBC Radio Humberside's 2025 Make A Difference finalists on BBC Sounds here.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

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