BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference award 2024 winners

Eight community heroes have been honoured and presented with awards at this year's BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference awards in a ceremony hosted by BBC Radio's Kirsten O'Brien, held at Reading Town Hall on Tuesday, September 2.

Duncan McLarty, editor at BBC Radio Berkshire, said: “The Make a Difference awards are the highlight of our year. Our winners are extraordinary and inspiring local people who put other people before themselves. They deserve all the thanks and recognition we can give them.”

L - R: Glen Edwards, Grace Muir (HEROS Charity), Isabella Faulkner, Karen Coward, Tutu Melaku, Harry Peksa, Dexter Rosier and Gini Hackett. (Image: BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference awards)

Winners of the Make a Difference Awards 2024 include:

• Gini Hackett - Volunteer  Award – Burghfield Common

  • Gini Hackett won the 'Volunteer Award,' which is awarded to an individual who makes a notable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help others.

• Tutu Melaku - Community Award - Reading

  • Tutu Melaku won the 'Community Award,' which is awarded to an individual or group of people who have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within their community. Championed by BBC Morning Live

• Dexter Rosier - Fundraiser Award - Wokingham

  • Dexter Rosier won the 'Fundraiser Award,' which is awarded to an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause.

• Isabella Faulkner - Carer Award - Maidenhead

  • Isabella Faulkner won the 'Carer Award,' which is awarded to someone who improves the life of an individual or group of people through their helpfulness, compassion and support.

L - R: Glen Edwards, Grace Muir (HEROS Charity), Isabella Faulkner, Karen Coward, Tutu Melaku, Harry Peksa, Dexter Rosier and Gini Hackett. (Image: BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference awards)

• Karen Coward - Great Neighbour Award - Yateley

  • Karen Coward won the 'Great Neighbour Award,' which is awarded to an individual who helps to make the neighbourhood a better place to live or work, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness.

• Glen Edwards - Bravery Award – Englefield Green NB Glen is the driver of the crane who rescued the man from the roof of a burning building in Reading.

  • Glen Edwards won the 'Bravery Award,' which is awarded to an individual or group of people who has shown outstanding courage, defiance and duty in the face of perceived danger, fear or difficulty

• Harry Peksa - The Green Award - Wokingham

  • Harry Peksa won 'The Green Award,' which is awarded to an individual or group of people who help to make where we live more environmentally friendly and better for nature.

• HEROS Charity - The Animal Award *New for 2024* - West Berkshire

  • HEROS Charity won 'The Animal Award,' which is awarded to an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people or a person or group of people working with animals to improve animal welfare.

In Berkshire, this year’s judges were:

• TV presenter Lorraine Kelly

• TV personality Debbie McGee

• Singer Chesney Hawkes

• Olympian Morgan Lake

• Tommy Longhurst from Reading band Only The Poets

• TV writer Suk Pannu

• Paralympian Louise Sugden

• Former High Sheriff of Berkshire Alka Kharbanda

Chris Burns, controller of BBC's Local Audio Commissioning, said: “The Make a Difference Awards celebrate the good things that happen with our communities and it’s great to see that every year we see more and more nominations.

"The award ceremonies for me are a humbling experience and I feel privileged that we get to shine a light on these stories and give our listeners a chance to celebrate the unsung heroes where they live.

"A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate someone and a huge congratulations to our winners.”

Visit BBC Make a Difference to find out more about the awards.