The best of Cornwall honoured at awards ceremony

A hedgehog hospital, a LGBT history project and a community martial arts gym in Bodmin have all been celebrated at a special ceremony in Cornwall.

The winners of the BBC Radio Cornwall Make a Difference Awards 2026 were announced in Truro on Wednesday.

The awards, which are in their fifth year, recognise and celebrate the unsung people and groups who make a difference in their communities across the county.

Managing editor of BBC Radio Cornwall Emma Clements thanked everyone involved, adding: "I think that everyone who was nominated should feel very proud and be celebrated for the work they do."

Orkney, 11, from the Isles of Scilly won the Young Hero award for the way he raises money for charity with a series of island and coastal running challenges.

Most recently he completed a seven-day 77km (48m) run, covering the South West Coast Path between Porthleven and Penzance before crossing back to Scilly by ferry to complete his course.

He said: "It was amazing, I found out Cornwall is very hilly compared to Scilly.

"I've raised money for the Marine Conservation Society, because I live by the sea, and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, to keep the habitat of where I live in tip top shape.

"I'm hoping when I'm older I can do mad things, I'm planning when I'm 16 to run the whole UK," added Orkney.

Queer Kernow CIC is a non-profit community group dedicated to uncovering and celebrating Cornwall's forgotten LGBT history.

The winner from the four community group finalists was chosen by John Cleave, one of the Fisherman's Friends shanty singers.

Cleave said: "It was terribly difficult to differentiate between them because what struck me most of all was that all of these folks that are involved in these community projects do what they do out of kindness, and out of love.

"I was saddened to see that, uniquely out of the four nominees, Queer Cornwall had to close their Facebook site because of hate messages.

"So because of this, I choose Queer Cornwall so that you should feel properly embraced as an integral and vibrant part of the Cornwall of today and of yesterday and of the future."

After collecting the Community Group award, historian Sophie Meyer said: "I feel like you get really ground down sometimes working with marginalised communities and actually this is a real pat on the back.

"We are here and we have got support and it's not just constantly fighting against negativity, it is valued and seen and worthy of consideration outside our little sphere of LGBT groups."

The Environmental Award went to Lanjeth Nursery and Water Gardens, a 13-acre plant-filled space created from an abandoned garden centre.

It is now a popular community space and a haven for nature.

Directors Steve Small and Norman Trebilcock collected the award. Trebilcock said: "I was nearly in tears, it was amazing, I didn't expect it."

Small added: "It was fantastic just to be nominated but to become the winners was just fantastic, especially when we're competing against other fantastic people.

"In all honesty, it's the community that has won the award."

The winner in the Animal category Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue started in a garden shed and recently relocated to a purpose-built 'hogspital' near Newquay.

It is run by mother-and-daughter duo Dianne and Katy South. Katy said the hot summer had been a testing time, explaining: "July was the busiest month on record since we began, with 253 admissions - we've built a new hospital and we've already filled it."

Dianne added: "It is very humbling to be recognised for what we do. We're just part of a team. There are a lot of us, a lot of staff and volunteers behind us and the community as well - we couldn't function without all the support we get."

The winner of the Volunteer Award, Cathy Carter, is based at the Cornwall Women's Centre in St Austell.

She trained to be a counsellor following the death of her son during the Covid-19 pandemic and now supports women who have experienced sexual and domestic abuse, helping them to grow in confidence.

She said: "I seriously didn't think I'd win, there are so many people out there doing such amazing work.

"It is just a huge honour... you don't know how much of a difference this has made to how I feel about myself, thank you."

Asgard Cornwall in Bodmin is much more than a martial arts gym, it is a safe and supportive place for people of all ages and abilities to improve their fitness, build confidence and learn valuable life skills.

TV presenter Fern Britton, who judged the category, said: "I had four nominees who are just amazing.

"I award the active award to the Asgard Martial Arts Gym in Bodmin which is encouraging confidence, discipline, respect and - where needed - [people] to be put on another path, a better path."

After Gemma Postins and Owen Gower picked up the active award, Postins said: "If I'm honest, being in the room with everyone else, it just seemed like we weren't worthy, but I'm still in shock, it's just wonderful to be noticed."

Gower added: "It felt very special, [it] came as a shock. What this award means is that the work's just started, it only just begins now, now we can help more people.

"We just want to help as many people as we can."

The Great Neighbour award went to Penny Platts from Portreath for the way she fills her days helping others - everything from singing in the choir to teaching sewing skills in local schools.

After watching a film of all the nominees, Platts said: "This is crazy, I am amazed I have actually won, it's very emotional. There are some fantastic people around, aren't there?"

The retired teacher added: "Every week is different, I have these activities that go on, it's rare that there's empty time, but I just love it. There's always something that crops up and there's more to do."

The winner of the Fundraiser Award The Noah Jordan Foundation was set up in memory of a very special little boy.

Noah Jordan was only nine months old when he died from mitochondrial disease, and his grieving family in Tywardreath vowed they would do what they could to fund research to raise awareness of the condition and support other families affected in similar ways.

The Noah Jordan Foundation has now raised more than £500,000 in two years, which has funded a three-year medical research PhD and helped the hospice where Noah was cared for at the end of his life.

His father Ben was very emotional as he admitted: "I guess I have used the charity for my grief in a lot of ways - my promise to my little boy was to have an impact for other children, so it's an honour and privilege to receive this award.

"It's not about me, this is about my close family and friends who helped me start this charity when Noah died, and all the extraordinary people who have helped with the charity.

"Most importantly this is for Noah and all the children who have sadly died or been affected by mitochondrial disease."

BBC Radio Cornwall managing editor Clements said: "It is a real privilege to tell the stories of the unsung heroes who make Cornwall the special place that it is.

"We were overwhelmed by the number of nominations, the judges had a really difficult job choosing the winners in the eight categories."

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