Make a Difference: Sussex and Surrey champions honoured at awards

The winners from this year's Make a Difference awards at the ceremony in East Grinstead

Community champions have been honoured in a BBC award scheme.

The Make a Difference Awards celebrate local heroes who give their time to improve their communities.

The Surrey and Sussex winners were announced at a ceremony on Monday at Ashdown Park Hotel in East Grinstead.

Winners included a group raising awareness of the risk of drugs, volunteers who protect a Sussex habitat and sixth formers who have befriended teenage refugees from Afghanistan.

Winners were announced in eight categories to recognise bravery, a great neighbour and volunteers, among others. The other finalists received Highly Commended awards.

The winners were:

• Volunteer: Jean Rigden from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, who has given 50 years of volunteering to Elmbridge Mencap

• Community Group: Billy & Beyond, formed after the death of a young man from Worthing, West Sussex, through an accidental drug overdose, and provides education workshops in schools about the dangers of drugs

• Fundraiser: Patricia Parker OBE, from Dorking, Surrey, who has spent 23 years developing a scheme to help children in Darfur, by providing livestock, water pumps and schools

• Carer: Annette Roberts from Carshalton, Surrey, who has cared for her 29-year-old son Ryan, who is partially sighted and has severe autism, and her mother Roseleah, who had Alzheimer's for the last 10 years of her life

• Great Neighbour: Despo Stevens, from Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, who has supported her local foodbank and given a home to vulnerable, disadvantaged children

• Bravery: Seahaven First Responders, volunteers who support 999 teams in East Sussex, and attended more than 1,000 calls in 2022 across Newhaven, Peacehaven and Seaford

• Green: Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group, which since 1997 has cared for a habitat near Chichester, West Sussex, and encouraged local people to take an active role in protecting it

• Together: Sixth form students at St George's College in Weybridge have been entertaining and befriending teenage refugees who were displaced from Afghanistan in 2021

Catch up on highlights from the Make a Difference Awards on BBC Sounds

Volunteer Award winner: Jean Rigden

Jean Rigden, winner of the Volunteer Award, is from Elmbridge Mencap. She supports children and adults with learning difficulties and has been working with the charity for 50 years.

Ms Rigden said: "I absolutely love it, it's just my life. you can have a really bad day and you go down to our club night and just feel so elated when you come home."

Community Group of the Year award winner: Nicci Parish who set up Billy & Beyond

Nicck Parish, who won for her work with Billy & Beyond said: "It's absolutely incredible. It's been a really tough journey since we lost Billy and it's really nice to know we are making a difference."

The group funds drug education workshops in local schools.

"It's keeping Billy's name alive which is really lovely," she said.

Fundraiser Award winner: Patricia Parker

Patricia Parker, 75, has spend 23 years helping children in Darfur. Her Kid for Kids lends goats, donkeys and chickens to families so their can breed their own livestock. They also install hand pumps and help kit out schools.

Carer Award winner: Annette Roberts

Annette Roberts from Carshalton won the Carer Award. She is a carer for her 29-year-old son Ryan, who is partially sighted and has severe autism. Annette also cared for her mother Rosaleah, who had Alzheimer's for the last 10 years of her life.

Great Neighbour Award winner: Despo Stevens

Despo Stevens, who won the Great Neighbour Award, gives time, energy and compassion to her community in Kingston-upon-Thames, whether it's supporting the local food-bank or giving a home to vulnerable, disadvantaged children.

She said: "There's always time to show kindness helping locally, helping at the foodbank has made me very humble.

"If we could all just do our little bit it would make everything a happier place, without a doubt."

Bravery Award winner: Seahaven Community First Responders

The Bravery Award winner, Seahaven Community First Responders supports front-line ambulance and NHS staff. Last year they attended more than 1,000 999 calls, including 40 cardiac arrests.

The Green Award winner: Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group

Manhood Wildlife and Heritage Group won the Green Award. The group was formed 25 years ago to encourage local people to take an active role in protecting their environment.

The Together Award winner: The Kennedy Club, St George's College

The Kennedy Club, St George's College, was given the Together Award for its support and friendship of relocated teenagers from Afghanistan after the 2021 Afghan evacuation. They provide games, conversation and sport and have made lasting friendships.

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