Police trauma support dog honoured at awards

This year's BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Make a Difference award winners

A woman who has raised millions of pounds for charities over 30 years and a police trauma support dog are among those to be honoured at a community awards ceremony in Gloucestershire.

They were among seven winners from 27 finalists who walked the red carpet for BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Make a Difference Awards.

Personalities including film and TV star Susan Lynch, Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno and Paralympian Piers Gilliver announced the winners to the audience.

It is the third year the awards have been held to recognise the unsung heroes in Gloucestershire.

This year’s winners were presented with their accolades at the special Make a Difference Awards ceremony which was hosted by BBC Points West’s Steve Knibbs on Saturday.

The seven winners were:

• The Volunteer Award: Mike Sollis – who has multiple sclerosis and works behind the scenes for gym Forest Fighting Fit

• The Community Award: Faith Rooke-Matthews – who the award ceremony heard was pivotal in the success of the Springbank Community Group in Cheltenham

• The Animal Award: Keo – a rescue dog who supports the wellbeing of Gloucestershire’s police officers who have experienced trauma

• The Carer Award: Alan Rudd – who has helped to make a success of the Cirencester and District Mental Health Support Group

• The Green Award: Frances Halstead – who brings life and community to the green spaces in deprived areas around Gloucestershire

• The Fundraiser Award: Julie Kent MBE – who has raised millions of pounds for various charities over three decades of fundraising

• The Bravery Award: James Clifton – who is overcoming the effects of a massive stroke to become a much-loved member at Abbeymead Rovers FC

'Ray of sunshine'

Keo's owner Mr Parker said he was an "amazing" dog

For the third year running BBC Local received a record number of entries and nominations for the awards.

They celebrate ordinary people and, for the first time, animals doing extraordinary things in their communities.

One of those was Keo, a rescue dog whose handler Scott Parker has trained him to volunteer with the Oscar Kilo 9 charity as a police trauma and wellbeing support dog.

Mr Parker said: "He's a little ray of sunshine.

"When people have been through some very tough times and when things are going wrong, he's able to give them a window of calm."

'Amazing texts'

Julie Kent raised £500,000 for a psychologist to support children - who have been diagnosed with cancer - and their family members

Ms Kent was the winner of the Fundraiser Award.

Her daughter, Emily, died of a brain tumour in 1995, aged three.

In March, a psychologist began working on the Emily Kent Ward at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital after Ms Kent raised funds by asking 250 businesses to donate £2,000 each.

After accepting the award on Saturday, Ms Kent said: "The psychologist has started and the people of Gloucestershire have helped me fund that.

"I have had amazing texts from parents saying, 'We've seen the psychologist, she's amazing'.

"Nothing is going to take the place of losing your child, but certainly seeing the difference it makes helps."

'Outstanding'

Carly Appleby, the executive editor of BBC Radio Gloucestershire, said: “The Make a Difference Awards are about celebrating individuals who kindly and selflessly support people in their communities and beyond.

"This year we had so many incredible entries and examples of people doing wonderful things in their own time to help locally across Gloucestershire and Wiltshire."

She added: "Congratulations to all of our worthy winners who have all made such a difference - bringing happiness, company and support to others.

"It has been a pleasure to be at the heart of the community and to share these stories.”

The awards ceremony was held at the De Vere Cotswold Water Park Hotel.