Nusrat Ghani, MP for Sussex Weald, offers warm congratulations to a local winner and a local finalist of BBC Radio Sussex ‘Make a Difference’ Awards.
The Make a Difference Awards are BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey’s annual celebration of local individuals and groups who truly ‘Make a Difference’ to other people’s lives. The nominations are submitted by the public, and a collection of local community leaders whittle the hundreds of nominations down to four finalists in each of the following categories: Community, Carer, Volunteer, Fundraiser, Great Neighbour, Animal, Green and Bravery.
At the ceremony, which took place on Monday 30th September, the final round judges including children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Eastenders actor Heather Peace, and BBC Apprentice finalist Phil Turner, revealed the overall winners.
Rachael Gibson from Young at Heart, Heathfield was Highly Commended in the Community category, while Dawn Stephen from Crowborough was crowned winner of the Great Neighbour Award.
Rachael founded ‘Young at Heart, Heathfield’ which is an intergenerational club that brings together elderly residents and the local primary school children to participate in activities together, from baking to gardening and listening to the children read. Since 2018, it’s grown significantly and hosts up to 30 members three days a week with 10 local schools on board. The main aim is to combat isolation and loneliness with members hearing children read, supporting their school topics, bingo and tea dancing as well as cooked lunch and transport.
Dawn has run The Bricklayers Arms in Crowborough for the past 16 years and goes out of her way to look after her local patrons. Since unexpectedly losing her husband Bill last year, she’s spearheaded a campaign to raise money for several defibrillators to be installed in the town.
Nusrat Ghani said: “Huge congratulations to Dawn for winning the Great Neighbour Award and to Rachael for being a finalist in the Community category. The ‘Make a Difference’ Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our great neighbours, carers, and volunteers and I’m pleased that Dawn and Rachael’s outstanding contributions to our communities have been recognised in this way. Sussex Weald is incredibly lucky to have so many wonderful individuals that selflessly give up their time to support others and I’m grateful for everything they continue to do for our communities every day.”
