Make a Difference award winners announced

The Make A Difference Awards for Coventry and Warwickshire were held on Sunday

From a 91-year-old who loves football and knitting to a 12-year-old IT whizz, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire has been celebrating the local heroes who make a difference in our communities.

The ceremony for this year's Make A Difference Awards was held on Sunday, when each of the finalists' inspiring stories was shared with attendees.

Other winners included a man who has organised opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to engage in the sport, the organiser of a tractor run who has raised thousands of pounds for local charities and two green-fingered women who have been rewilding farmers' fields.

All the winners from the 2025 awards can be seen below.

Mavis Winterburn, 91, was winner of the volunteer award

The volunteer award was won by Mavis Winterburn, who said she had not expected to win, and her son had come up from London especially for the award ceremony.

She has washed the kits of her local football team, Fillongley FC, for the past 75 years and also runs knit and natter groups.

"We've done well really, if anybody wants to learn to knit they come and we help them out," she said.

They knitted life-sized soldiers for VE Day, and her next project is a life-sized Santa in time for Christmas.

Akhil Akella, 12, won the young hero award

The young hero award went to 12-year-old Akhil Akella.

"It's a really surreal moment," he said on picking up the trophy.

He has presented his ideas on how to reduce road accidents using artificial technology to Warwickshire Police, Leicestershire Police and Highways England.

"They were astonished," he said, in particular due to his young age.

David Monks won the great neighbour award

The great neighbour award was won by David Monks, who said it was "absolutely wonderful" to be recognised.

He has been involved with Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind where they organise 90-minute talking newspaper recordings.

Kevin Taylor won the active award

Kevin Taylor won the active award and said the honour meant a "great deal".

He has spent the last six years promoting the sport of table tennis - creating inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, including those with Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's.

"We're a minority sport, this is a huge win for table tennis," he said. "It will help us promote the real benefits that everybody gets from it."

He was well-connected with other clubs, and said although he never achieved his own personal ambitions in the sport, he enjoyed getting as many people as possible involved.

Valerie and dog Rosie won the animal award

The animal award winners were Valerie and dog Rosie.

Valerie said: "It's wonderful, it really is. We're absolutely delighted. I'm so proud of Rosie and the work she does in Bilton Junior School."

Rosie is part of the Pets As Therapy "read to dogs" scheme.

She goes into the school every Wednesday, and they have a group of about six children who each spend about 15 minutes individually reading to Rosie.

It gives them time to relax, Valerie said.

"She's amazing when we go into school," she added. "There are lots of children milling around, they all come up and want to stroke Rosie, they circle around her.

"She's quite calm with that, quite happy, and she lets them stroke her."

Rosie also enjoyed going through the school hall and “hoovering up” after lunchtime, Valerie said.

She added it was "a joy" to go into school each week and said it was a lovely place to go.

The green award winners were Kate and Kath from Achieving Results in Communities

The green award winners were Kate and Kath from Achieving Results in Communities (ARC).

"We couldn't believe it, we were sat at the top so we thought all the winners would be on the ground floor, so we just weren't expecting to win at all. It was lovely when we did hear our names," Kate said.

They have been heavily involved in the local community around Leamington Spa, with ARC now having been running for about 15 years.

Kath added: "When we started off, we converted a bit of derelict land into a community woodland and it's just grown from there."

They now run community gardening projects as well as groups for people struggling with their mental health.

Kate said they had been asked by the council to plant 25 trees to create a community orchard on some underused green space between a school and some flats.

They worked with a local nursery and the school on the scheme, which has enabled the project to thrive, Kate said.

They currently have a range of fruit - including plums, apples and pears - growing there.

The community group award went to Emma Stuchbury and Shan Dobinson of Binley Woods and Wolston Youth Clubs

The community group award went to Emma Stuchbury and Shan Dobinson of Binley Woods and Wolston Youth Clubs.

Ms Stuchbury said: "This award is not just for us, it's for every youth club that's survived and for every youth club that's restarting and that's going on."

The pair used their acceptance speech to plea for more funding and support to help make a difference in young people's lives.

Ms Dobinson added: "I just see young people who don't engage, haven't got anywhere to go.

"They don't want to go to perhaps something too organised, they just want to chill out."

She said it was sometimes difficult finding support for teenagers.

The fundraiser award went to Martin Brandreth

The fundraiser award went to Martin Brandreth, who runs the Sheepy Ploughing Association Christmas Tractor run.

Since starting the tractor run five years ago he has raised more than £85,000 for local charities.

The event has also become a local tradition, bringing the community together with thousands lining the streets over two nights to see the convoy of 75 tractors decked out in Christmas lights and decorations.

The convoy covers Atherstone, North Warwickshire, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Coventry and many surrounding villages.