Unsung heroes celebrated at Cornwall awards

The BBC Radio Cornwall Make a Difference 2025 winners have been announced at a ceremony at the Falmouth Hotel

A much-loved lollipop man, an accessible cricket team and a woman who helps search for lost dogs have all been celebrated at a special ceremony in Cornwall.

The winners of the BBC Radio Cornwall Make a Difference Awards 2025 were announced at the Falmouth Hotel on Tuesday.

The awards, which are in their fourth year, recognise and celebrate people who make a difference in their communities across Cornwall.

After receiving hundreds of nominations, judges chose the winners of eight categories who they felt were inspiring examples of Cornish community spirit.

Richard Northey won the Great Neighbour Award

The Great Neighbour Award was won by 81-year-old Richard Northey from Chacewater for his considerable work in the community.

Mr Northey is the local lollipop man, he helps to maintain the recreation ground, play area and churchyard and even cleans the village's toilets.

He said: "I know I'm getting on a bit but I can't sit down, I got to keep pottering around.

"I love doing the jobs. I can't sit down all day and watch the television and play with the phone. I've got to get up and do something."

Teenager Kayleigh from Camborne won the the Young Hero Award for her volunteering work running the pudding station at an after school teatime club.

She is known for her 'everything waffles' which are especially popular with the club's members.

Kayleigh said: "When you come in there's a queue from start to finish.

"It's really fun to see the same faces every week and know that you're helping them."

She said she was surprised to have won the award: "I didn't really know what I do is making a difference, but apparently it is."

Maxine Young from Truro won the Animal Award

Maxine Young, from Truro, won the Animal Award for her work as the volunteer co-ordinator of Dog Lost Cornwall, a charity which searches for missing pets.

She said: "I saw an article about the woman who set up the Dog Lost website, read her story and decided I wanted to help out.

"I've also got dogs myself so if my dogs went missing I would want to know there was somebody out there to support me, to help me, and just be a back-up if I couldn't do things."

The Sparkle Foundation UK won the Community Group Award

The Community Group Award was won by the Helston-based Sparkle Foundation, founded and chaired by Leigh Yates.

For 15 years the charity has provided support to families managing mental health crises.

Ms Yates said: "We offer whatever they need when they're in an acute mental health crisis.

"People are not alone, there are people to help."

On winning her award she said: "It made me feel really emotional because I do this day in day out and it is difficult, it does have a toll on us at times, and us as a family, but it reinforces how worthwhile it is and how other people think of what you do.

"I'm delighted and honoured and it made me feel amazing."

The Active Award was presented to the Cornwall Super 9s from Truro

The Active Award was won by disability cricket team Cornwall Super 9s from Truro.

The team was crowned South West League Champions in only their second competitive season this summer.

Head coach Dan Tonkin said: "A lot of these guys can't access normal open-age cricket because of their disabilities, so this is a great opportunity for them to get that competitive edge and actually go out and compete in a competitive sport."

Viv Stratton from St Ives was given the Green Award

Viv Stratton, from St Ives, won the Green Award for transforming what used to be his family's farm into the St Ives Community Orchard where hundreds of trees have been planted to create a woodland for animals, insects and wild flowers.

"For nearly 50 years I just dreamt this would eventually become a reserve, become an oasis, because I could see the buildings going all the way round to Halsetown, this will be a little oasis that people can enjoy for ever and a day," he said.

The Volunteer Award was won by Lijia Ashcroft from Mullion

Lijia Ashcroft, born in China and who has been living in Mullion for nearly 10 years, was awarded the the Volunteer Award.

She helps the Gweek youth club, she works in the village's community garden and she mans the Mullion food larder, as well as helping a local elderly couple.

Ms Ashcroft said: "As a legal migrant volunteering makes me feel like I belong here, I'm welcome and accepted.

"It feels like a family thing, like we're part of their family, that's the biggest joy of it."

Sarah Doolin and Craig Pollard from Helston were given the the Fundraiser Award

Sarah Doolin and Craig Pollard from Helston were awarded he Fundraiser Award for their work raising funds and awareness of Group B Streptococcus.

The couple lost their 19-day-old boy Ezrah after he died after contracting a Group B Streptococcus infection which then led to meningitis and sepsis, causing brain injury.

They created a fund to raise money for Ezrah's funeral and they said it "snowballed like magic" and they realised they wanted to continue their campaign.

In the past three years they have raised more than £84,000 for Group B Streptococcus support and raised awareness as well as The Grand Appeal for Bristol Children's Hospital which Ms Doolin said was "mind-blowing".

"All we do is for Ezrah," she added.