Devon Make a Difference Awards finalists announced

Pizza makers managing their mental health, boxers living with Parkinson's disease and a therapy alpaca are just some of the finalists in this year's BBC Radio Devon Make A Difference Awards.

The awards recognise and celebrate local people who are making a positive contribution in their communities.

There are eight categories this year which honour fundraisers, great neighbours, sports groups, volunteers and young heroes, as well as people caring for the environment and supporting others.

This year, BBC Devon received hundreds of nominations after appeals on radio, TV, online and through social media.

The Community Group Award is backed by BBC Morning Live and is awarded to a group of people who have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within their community.

The finalists are:

• Operation Rudolph (East Devon) – providing food, gifts and festive dinners for people in need at Christmas
• Dough Bros (Totnes) – a men's mental health group which has developed around the making of artisan pizzas
• Balloons Grief Support workers (East and Mid Devon) – a group of volunteers who support bereaved children, young people and their families
• Access All Aerials (Alphington) – a radio project which enables disabled people to have their voices heard

Previous winners of this award have included: The Benita Project in South Molton, ChemoHero in Barnstaple, Shoalstone Pool in Brixham and the Great Parks Community Association in Paignton.

Some of this year's finalists in the Fundraiser Award have been motivated by loss and grief.

The finalists are:

• Debbie and Michael Hollinson (Plymouth) – having lost their daughter, they now raise funds and awareness for the suicide prevention charity Papyrus
• Paul Maxwell (Plymouth) – running marathons to support mental health and nursing charities following the murder of his partner, Claire
• Mary Bolshaw (Honiton) – who has spent 40 years raising money for Hospicecare and supporting palliative care services
• Adam Rodriguez (Exeter) – following his mother's cancer journey, he is running a marathon in each English city for the charity Move Against Cancer

Community groups are recognised in categories including the environment, sport and physical activity and volunteering.

This year's Environmental Award will be awarded to an individual or group of people who help to make where we live more environmentally friendly and better for nature.

The finalists are:

• Sustainable Hatherleigh (Hatherleigh) – a practical force which includes a repair café and conservation in the community
• Growing Well Garden (Bow) – a community garden specialising in therapeutic horticulture
• The Sampford Peverell Tree Wardens (Mid-Devon) – planting trees, hedges and maintaining the village
• Charles Staniland at Shallowford Farm (Dartmoor) – a retired horticulturalist who has renewed a garden and now helps young people care for it

The life experiences of young people under 16 also shape the awards.

This year young foster carers, young people in care, and children supporting others are recognised.

The finalists are:

• Brody, six, who actively welcomes foster children into his home, sharing toys and his mum
• Lillymay,15, who has written a book about her experience of being adopted as an older child, so that she can raise awareness for others
• Dylan,13, who has been making food parcels for the homeless in Torbay since he was eight
• Max,15, who is managing GCSE studies with volunteering at a local youth centre running sessions and supporting new volunteers

For the most part, people are the focus of the awards. However, animals also feature.

The Animal Award is given to an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people, or, to a person or group of people working with animals to improve animal welfare.

The finalists are:

• Thunderball (Buckfastleigh) – a therapy alpaca, who visits care homes, hospital wards and schools
• Ridley (Dawlish) – a guide dog who became both an ambassador and therapy dog for the Paws and Read project
• Volunteers at the Shaldon Wildlife Trust (Shaldon) – caring for more than 40 species, many of which are rare or endangered
• Jet (Exeter) – a therapy dog for students and staff at Exeter College through Pets As Therapy

The Active Award is awarded to an individual or group of people who have used physical activity or sport as a way of improving the lives of those in their community.

• Gemma Rous and the Penguin Sports Foundation (North Devon) – offering inclusive sports sessions including frame running, swimming and rebound therapy (on trampolines).
• Maryam Pourian (Plymouth) – a dancer who runs workshops and classes for people living with cancer
• Gavin Lane (Barnstaple) – a boxing coach who trains and teaches people living with Parkinsons Disease
• Sophie Conbeer (Plymouth) – a rowing captain who makes her sport inclusive for everyone

The Make A Difference Awards celebrate local people who often give their time and talent for free to support and inspire others.

Volunteering is a key part of the awards and both the Volunteer Award and the Great Neighbour Award recognise individual contributions to communities.

The finalists are:

• Simon England (Exeter) – supporting men's mental health through Andy's Man Club in Exeter
• Prem Sivlal (Exeter) – the driving force of the Hindu Temple project in Exeter, creating a place of worship for local Hindu community
• Nigel Toms (Modbury) – a volunteer community first responder for over 15 years
• Heather Rayne (Tavistock) – serving the Tavistock Memory Café and those living with dementia for over 19 years

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

• Adam Prowse (Cranbrook) – a postman who delivers letters, parcels and good cheer to his community
• Donna Gibbins (Exeter) – the secret elf behind the doorstep deliveries of support for those in need
• Simon Chudley (Okehampton) – the landlord of the London Inn, who ensures his pub serves its community
• Annie Bennett (Ottery St Mary) – the organiser of Exeter Pride bringing an inclusive event to the city

A group of four judges from local community organisations chose the 32 finalists.

They will all come together with friends and family for a celebration and awards ceremony in September.

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