Pets to be recognised in BBC Make a Difference awards

Animals and the people who care for them can be nominated for the first time this year

Nominations have opened for the BBC's Make a Difference awards with a new category for animals this year.

The awards honour those who make their communities a better place, with the BBC's 39 local radio stations due to crown their winners in the autumn.

There are eight categories, including the new animal one, which is also open to people who work with animals.

Stephanie Phillips from Worcester, who won an award in 2023, said it generated "so much love and positivity".

Chris Burns, Controller Local Audio Commissioning for BBC England, said: "We are a nation of animal lovers and our listeners often contact us with stories of what their pets mean to them and how they are offering support to them."

BBC Make a Difference was set up during the first coronavirus lockdown to help people contact those offering help or support, and the BBC has continued to recognise those who make a positive impact in their community.

Each BBC Local Radio station is due to hold an award ceremony in September and people have until 23:00 GMT on 10 March to submit their nominations.

Stephanie Phillips said her Make a Difference award generated a lot of 'love and positivity'

Ms Phillips won her award in the Together category, for supporting thousands of people all over the world who are unable to have children.

She founded World Childless Week in 2017, and it now involves people from more than 100 countries.

Ms Phillips said: "To be acknowledged and recognised was gobsmacking."

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Normally, she believes people without children can struggle to be noticed and said she was "incredibly grateful to be seen".

"Straight away after the award I had people come up to me and hug me and say 'I'm childless too'."

Soon afterwards she said one woman had been inspired to have a conversation about childlessness in her workplace.

World Childless Week takes place in September and Ms Phillips said it was an opportunity to share experiences and to tell people without children "they are worthy".