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Make a Difference Awards: Cumbria community champions honoured

BBC Make a Difference Radio Cumbria award winnersBBC
Make a Difference was set up to share the stories of people going above and beyond to help those living around them

People who go above and beyond in their community in Cumbria have been honoured at an awards ceremony.

BBC Radio Cumbria's Make a Difference Awards were held in Carlisle on Saturday.

Categories included volunteers, good neighbours, key workers, carers, community groups and environmentalists.

Make a Difference was set up by the BBC at the start of the first lockdown in March 2020 to help those needing support.

Nine million people have interacted with the scheme across all 39 local BBC radio stations.

Earlier this year local listeners were asked to nominate individuals and organisations who deserved special recognition for their efforts.

Oliver Voysey
Fundraiser winner Oliver Voysey helped save the Lake District Calvert Trust from closure after it lost £1m in revenue during lockdown

Winners included Oliver Voysey who raised £250,000 in lockdown to help save the Lake District Calvert Trust from closure,

Also recognised was community group The Friends of Carlisle's Victorian and Turkish Baths for their campaign to protect the future of the 138-year-old baths in Carlisle.

Make a Difference Radio Cumbria award winners
The Friends of Carlisle's Victorian and Turkish Baths have campaigned for the baths transferred to community ownership to save it from closure

The winners in the eight categories were:

  • Fundraiser award - Oliver Voysey
  • Volunteer award - Laura Payne
  • Carer award - Shaun Moore
  • Great neighbour award - Audrey Johnston
  • Environmental award - Wild Ennerdale
  • Key worker award - Karen Edmondson
  • Together award - Toby Ryland
  • Community group award - Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths
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