Make a Difference Awards 2026 honour their winners

A man who worked his way back to walking again after being told he never would again was among the winners at BBC Radio Stoke's Make A Difference Awards with other winners including a man who battled his addiction and now helps others.

The ceremony was held at the Bet365 Stadium on Thursday, where the stories of all those shortlisted were shared with guests.

Other winners on the night included a group that had planted more than 300 trees and a former Michelin starred chef who raised more than £170,000 for three charities.

There were a total of 32 finalists this year across eight categories.

The event was hosted by Jodie Looker and Lee Blakeman, and saw athletes Bryony Page, Jazmin Sawyers and Ashleigh Nelson help judge the awards as well as joining the audience on the night.

Other members of this year's judging panel included TV stars Anthea Turner, Keith Brymer Jones and Nick Hancock as well as playwright Deb McAndrew and boxer Nathan Heaney.

The winner of this year's volunteer award, Jamie Palmer, went from being homeless and a drug user to becoming a volunteer peer mentor, helping others overcome their difficulties.

He found support in 2019 through homelessness charity Concrete, and subsequently decided to help others facing similar challenges.

"I've been doing the volunteering, trying to give back," he said, adding that he wanted to spread the message that drugs users were not "bad people" but that they sometimes simply needed help to turn their situations around.

Animal category winner Dawn Johnson helped people find missing animals using remote cameras, humane traps and feeding stations.

"I really wasn't expecting to win tonight," she said, adding that the work she did gave her a "fantastic" feeling and that it was rewarding when pets were safely returned.

Graham Harrison's neighbours nominated him for the great neighbour award after they said he went out of his way to help others for decades.

He voluntarily picks up litter along his street, clears leaves from the path and removes rubbish from the park, as well as caring for his wife who has dementia.

Harrison was described as a "genuinely lovely gentleman whose dedication, generosity, and community spirit make him exceptionally deserving of this award," by his neighbours.

"I'll do anything for anybody," he said, "as far as I can go."

He added it was the first time he had received such recognition.

Dave Taylor, this year's active award winner, developed Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2020, an illness that affects movement and bodily functions such as breathing and heartbeat.

"I was paralysed from the neck down, and they said I'd never walk again," Taylor said, who added that his response at the time was: "Watch me."

He used a hydro pool and swimming sessions, and was eventually able to walk again.

Taylor then went on to set up the Water Warriors group, which supports people recovering from surgery and managing long-term health conditions.

Their sessions at Stafford Leisure Centre combine gentle exercise with social interaction to help members regain mobility, build confidence and improve their overall wellbeing.

Every weekend, volunteers from Rising Brook Ground Force in Stafford gather to carry out planting, clear rubbish and create habitats for wildlife.

The group was this year's winner in the environmental category, after planting more than 300 trees and setting up projects such as their Buzz Stop pollinator area.

"We've done so much, and we've had such fun doing it," said Val Gayter, one of the group's founders.

"We've done it because we care about the area and we want it to be nice."

Former Michelin-listed chef Matt Davies, who suffered a severe electric shock that ended his career, was this year's winner of the fundraising award.

He said his experiences spurred him to raise more than £170,000 for three charities - The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity, Fisher House Foundation and Hospitality Action.

Davies had two amputations to an arm, 88 plastic surgeries and admitted he now suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"I want to help so many people because I know how I've suffered, and I've suffered horrendously," he explained.

He added his fundraising had only been possible due to his "awesome" group of chef friends and contacts he had built during a 40-year career in hospitality.

Freddie-Jack Brown was this year's young hero award winner for his efforts to raise money for the hospital that cared for his sister who had cancer.

The 10-year-old took it upon himself to learn sign language after he found out his sister would never be able to talk again.

He raised more than £5,000 by completing a marathon as well as organising a bake sale, and said it was "great" to be given the award.

Childhood Cancer Parent Alliance Stars Volunteers, this year's community group winners, plan activities for more than 90 families of children with cancer.

"We know what they've gone through, because we've gone through it ourselves," said Jillian Millward, one of the group's members.

They provide support by organising things like crafting, cake decorating, art projects and help on day trips.

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