Safety campaigner wins BBC Make a Difference Award

Poppy Murray is the winner of the BBC Guernsey Make a Difference Award 2025

Campaigner Poppy Murray has won the BBC Guernsey Make a Difference Award 2025.

Ms Murray was presented with the trophy on Thursday in recognition of her work to raise awareness of women's safety at night.

She created the BE LADS campaign in 2021 in response to the murder of Sarah Everard in London.

It gives practical advice for men to help women feel safer when they are walking alone and now forms part of Guernsey's PSHE curriculum. Ms Murray also founded the charity SafetyNet, which aims to make the night time economy safer for all.

'Turning point'

Last week four finalists were named in the awards, which aim to celebrate people who have made a positive difference in their community.

Ms Murray was out for drinks with friends when BBC Radio Guernsey surprised her with her trophy.

She said: "It's not every day that someone just walks in and hands you an award. I can't explain how much this means to me."

"I always do say to people you really can make a difference even as one person."

She said a lot of what she did was behind the scenes or online so she wanted to make a point of thanking her supporters.

"I haven't met most of them but they consistently support me and everything the charity is trying to achieve."

She teared up as she added: "It takes a really long time to see the impact of what you've done but I think that this year has been a turning point so to have the recognition this year really means a lot."

"It's just amazing to know that has made a difference."

'Thank you'

One of the four judges for this year's awards in Guernsey was Liberate CEO Ellie Jones, who said it had been difficult to narrow down the entries because they were so varied.

But the judges were all impressed by the difference Ms Murray was making in the Bailiwick and further afield.

"Hopefully [Poppy's work] will make a real impact, long-term, of changing the culture that we have, especially within the night-time economy of people expecting to be hassled."

She added: "When we can change that culture it will be amazing and that will be with a huge thank you to Poppy and the work that she's done."

Ms Murray wanted to pay tribute to all her fellow nominees this year.

"They are making a difference and that's what it takes."