Community groups helping to change people's lives

A men's mental health project, a festival food initiative, a grief support charity and a community radio station are all finalists in this year's BBC Radio Devon Make A Difference Awards.

In their fifth year, the awards recognise and celebrate local people who make a positive contribution to communities across the county.

Dough Bros, Totnes, Operation Rudolph, East Devon, Balloons, Exeter and Access All Aerials, Exeter are all up for the the Community Group Award, which is awarded to organisations which have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within their community.

From tackling loneliness and food insecurity to supporting bereaved children, improving men's mental health and amplifying disabled voices on the airwaves, the four projects have helped people feel seen, heard and supported.

For the volunteers behind Operation Rudolph, Christmas is about making sure nobody feels forgotten.

The volunteer-led, non-profit organisation, supports families and individuals across East Devon, offering meals and presents over Christmas.

Volunteer Ainsley Taylor said: "It's not just about giving, it's about making sure people feel supported all year round."

Funded through donations, the group supported more than 550 households in 2025 and is powered by more than 80 volunteers who work throughout the year.

Taylor said: "It's an honour for a child to trust an adult they don't know."

For grief support workers at Balloons, every conversation matters.

The charity provides one-to-one and group support for children and young people aged five to 25, who have experienced the death of a loved one or someone significant in their lives.

Volunteer Supervisor Liz Cook, said "the grief support workers offer them a safe space to talk about and explore their feelings'"aid.

Staff have said some children are "reluctant to share their emotions with family members because they do not want to cause additional upset".

The charity looks to build "trusted therapeutic relationships" to help young people navigate one of life's most difficult experiences.

Support workers have said the work can have a lasting impact, helping children build resilience that will carry them into adulthood.

Cook added: "One of the most powerful things about grief support is helping children and young people build resilience for the future."

Dough Bros in Totnes use pizza to start conversations about mental health.

Hosted by Resilient Lives CIC, the peer-led support programme brings men together in a relaxed environment where there is no pressure to talk, but plenty of opportunity to connect.

Silver Levy-So, from Resilient Lives, said pizza was an "icebreaker" and the "lead facilitator".

"When you're sharing something you've made, it's almost like saying 'this is me.'"

Silver said, for some men, the group may be a vital lifeline and a first step towards seeking support.

Accessible radio station Access All Aerials provides people the opportunity to create programmes and share their stories on air.

All presenters and contributors either identify as disabled or neurodiverse, or are within the support network of someone who is.

Station manager Craig Bowden said some presenters had told him being involved in the station had "saved their life" by giving them a place where they felt valued and listened to.

The four finalists each support communities in entirely different ways, but all share a common goal of creating spaces where people feel connected and understood.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.