Make a Difference: Hampshire, Dorset and IoW Episodes Episode guide
-
Gardening group helping children with disabilities
Gardening group at Diverse Abilities in Christchurch were finalists for Green Award.
-
Make a Difference Awards 2026: Meet our Judges
Anjali Mavi is a judge in the BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference Awards for 2026.
-
Young carer's confidence 'skyrocketed' after BBC win
Emberly won the Young Hero Award at the BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference Awards 2025.
-
"Now the park is alive with wildlife"
Dave Young founded Friends of Bartley Park to bring wildlife back to the park.
-
Mum fundraising in son's memory
Caroline Mousdale won the Fundraiser Award in the Make a Difference Awards in 2025.
-
Make a Difference Awards 2026: Meet our Judges
Dahlia Jamil from Art Asia in Southampton is judging the Community Group Award.
-
Actor Michael Fox on judging BBC Award
Downton Abbey's Michael Fox is a judge in the Make a Difference Awards for 2026.
-
"Animal Award nomination was lovely retirement present"
Cleo was a finalist in the Animal category in the Make a Difference Awards for 2025.
-
Georgia Adams: 'Honoured to judge BBC Award'
Hampshire cricketer Georgia Adams is judging the Volunteer Award.
-
Dorset project supporting young people
Space Youth Project offers support to LGBT+ young people in Dorset.
-
Make a Difference Awards 2026: Meet our Judges
Franny & Kenzie Benali are judging the Active Award.
-
Portsmouth charity supporting families
Portsmouth charity Enable Ability supports people with disabilities and their families.
-
Repair Cafe Winchester saves hundreds of items from landfill
Repair Cafe Winchester has saved 2928kg of household items from ending up in landfill.
-
Poole volunteers recycling waste
Win on Waste in Poole has been working in waste and recycling for over 12 years.
-
Anjana Khatwa: 'Being a judge is a difficult job'
Earth Scientist Dr Anjana Khatwa is judging the Environmental Award.
-
Volunteer "over the moon" to win BBC Award
Karen Hamilton has worked with over 150 charities and raised more than £4 million.
-
Cowes club making sailing accessible
Cowes Sailability were finalists in the Active category in the Make a Difference Awards.
-
Launch of Make a Difference Awards 2026
BBC Radio Solent's Make a Difference Awards 2026 are open for nominations.
-
"Even people in full-time work are struggling"
Hive Portsmouth helps people and organisations to improve their health and well being.
-
BBC Radio Solent Soapbox Appeal 2026
BBC Radio Solent's Soapbox Appeal is helping collect toiletries and cleaning products.
-
Young Hero Award finalists: Sophia and Emberly
Sophia and Emberly - finalists in Young Hero category in 2025 Make a Difference Awards.
-
Charity helping young people into work
The King's Trust supported 1500 young people in the South into work and training in 2025.
-
Helping children 'understand their feelings'
Rob Franks from Poole has written a children's book about getting seriously injured.
-
Farm helping people and animals in Southampton
Southampton City Farm runs wellbeing boosting activities for the community.
-
Hygiene poverty causing people to skip work
8.7 million adults miss work because of hygiene poverty, according to the Hygiene Bank.
-
Building friendships through performance
Drama, dance and singing sessions for young people with learning disabilities.
-
Community cafe bringing people together
Community cafe in East Cowes brings people together to irradiate loneliness.
-
Community Group Award Winners: Enable Ability
Enable Ability won the Community Group Award in the Make a Difference Awards for 2025.
-
Fundraiser Award Winner: Caroline Mousdale
Caroline Mousdale won the Fundraiser Award in the Make a Difference Awards.
-
Green Award Winner: Friends of Bartley Park
Friends of Bartley Park in Totton won the Green Award in the Make a Difference Awards.