Make A Difference Awards honour community champions

The winners of the BBC Radio Somerset Make a Difference Awards 2024 with presenter Claire Carter

A charity that has helped more than 2,000 children and young people across Somerset with their mental health has been honoured for its work.

Counselling charity In Charley’s Memory was celebrated alongside others at the BBC Radio Somerset's Make a Difference Awards on Sunday night.

In total, 32 finalists were recognised at the 2024 ceremony for going above and beyond to support others.

Hosted by BBC Radio Somerset presenter Claire Carter, attendees enjoyed welcome drinks before the awards dinner and ceremony at Quantock Lakes in Nether Stowey.

The award categories were Fundraiser, Volunteer, Community, Great Neighbour, Bravery, Green, Carer and Animal.

The In Charley’s Memory team won the Community Award for their efforts in mental health support

The Morning Live Community Award went to the Highbridge-based mental health charity In Charley’s Memory, for its work offering one-to-one counselling for children and young people.

It was set up in memory of 18-year-old Charley Marks, who had struggled with his mental health throughout his adolescence before taking his own life in 2014.

The charity has recently taken on a youth club in Burnham-on-Sea and has now extended its counselling service to help adults as well.

Morning Live presenter and Bake-Off alumni, Briony May Williams, judged the category and said the charity “deserved this recognition”.

"It’s so vital to have services like these, especially for young children as they are the most vulnerable,” she added.

Accepting the award, the charity’s chief operating officer, Jamie Scanlon, said: "We’re seeing 200 people a week. It’s just so important that young people can get the help they need when times are really tough for them."

BBC Radio Somerset’s Andy Bennett presented the Green Award trophy to Gordon Swindells

Gordon Swindells, a volunteer flood warden coordinator in the village of Martock, was declared the winner in the Green category.

After raising his concerns for the safety of road users and school pupils in the flood prone village, the retired police officer created the flood alleviation scheme.

Mr Swindells is responsible for recruiting and coordinating 16 flood wardens, whose duties include 24-hour monitoring of flood prevention measures and offering assistance to flood victims.

The Green Award category judge, TV presenter Jules Hudson, commended Mr Swindells for “liaising with an untold number of outside agencies to try and ensure Martock becomes and remains resilient to flooding”.

The CEO of Somerset-based charity Diversity Voice, Natalie Dyson, presented Lyn Foley with the Great Neighbour Award

The winner of the Great Neighbour award was Lyn Foley, a retired nurse from Stoke-sub-Hamdon, who runs tea clubs, lunch clubs and organises Christmas day lunches for her neighbours.

She also helped to take over the village store and turn it into a thriving community shop.

Category judge, BBC Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, said: "To selflessly do all that she has done whilst looking after her elderly parents is amazing.

"She has brought this community together with her help, compassion and her very, very big heart”.

Accepting the award, Ms Foley said: “I’m a carer, I’m a nurse, so at the end of the day, you care, don’t you?”

Bracken was given the Animal Award for his work as a therapy dog in a care home

Brand new for this year was the Animal Award, and the winner of the inaugural category was 14-year-old therapy dog Bracken, a rescue Labrador Retriever cross.

Bracken has been going into the Manor Care Home in Bishops Hull, near Taunton, every Tuesday for six years to spend time with the residents in their rooms.

Bracken’s owner Pauline Flood said he "especially cuddles into residents who are particularly poorly – almost like he knows they need more love".

Wildlife presenter and animal loving judge Mike Dilger said Bracken was “absolutely amazing”.

Ruby Andrews won the Bravery Award for tackling a debilitating health condition

The Bravery Award was presented to 17-year-old Ruby Andrews, from Bruton, for her resilience and determination in overcoming her debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The condition affects Ms Andrew's life on a daily basis. During flare ups she can not walk and struggles with everyday tasks.

Her mum Kirsty said: “No one wants to see their child in pain and unable to walk, crippled by this cruel disease, but Ruby’s lust for life shines through. I would love for her to see just how brave she is.”

Actor James Purefoy said it was “unfathomable” and “astonishing” to him for Ruby to be dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis at such a young age.

He added the fact that she had passed her GCSEs when she could barely hold a pen said “everything we need to know about your fierce tenacity and astonishing bravery”.

BBC Radio Somerset’s Mel Everett presented 11-year-old Mia with the Fundraiser Award

The chosen winner of the Fundraiser Award was 11-year-old Mia Shore.

Mia took part in RED January, running every day in all weathers for Sarcoma UK in memory of a family friend who died the previous year.

She had hoped to raise just a few hundred pounds, but after 31 days of running and covering a distance of more than 50 miles (80km), her fundraising total was more than £12,000 .

Mia said: "Doing it through January was quite tough because the weather some days was really icy. We had a little bit of snow and some days it was just really wet and cold.”

The judge for this category, Somerset and England Cricketer Jack Leach, said Mia’s fundraising challenge was “a big lesson to all of us on how to react to adversity".

BBC Radio Somerset’s Claire Carter congratulated Ethan Smith and his mum Kirsty as he received the Carer Award

Ethan Smith was chosen as the Carer Award winner for how he looks after his younger brother Sol, who has Down's syndrome and other health problems including difficulty walking and communicating.

The person who nominated Ethan said: “He gives so much of his time and life to looking after his brother and making sure he lives the best life he can”.

Mr Smith plays with him, helps feed and bathe him, takes him to the local park, and helps him communicate by signing with him.

BBC Radio Somerset's Simon Parkin presented Cath Morrison with the Volunteer Award

The winner of the Volunteer Award was Cath Morrison from Chard, who was recognised for being one of the founding members of the Chard Community Hub.

The hub hosts a repair shop, arts and crafts sessions and a community fridge and pantry.

Category judge Deborah Meaden, from Dragon’s Den on BBC One, praised her decades of volunteering, and added: “Cath sees a problem, Cath sorts a problem.”

Ms Morrison simply responded: “I do it because I enjoy it. It’s a challenge.

“I like to be of good, where I’m helping people. Even sometimes I need help myself, but I like to think that I can make a difference.”

All finalists received a trophy in recognition of their achievements.