Make a Difference Awards finalists revealed

A pony, a puzzle library and a boy who saved his mum and brother after a car crash are just some of the finalists in this year's BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Make a Difference Awards.

The awards recognise and celebrate local people who are making a positive contribution in their communities.

There are eight categories this year and the full line-up of nominees has now been revealed.

A ceremony to crown the winners and to celebrate their achievements is being held on 22 September.

The Community Group Award is given to a team that has helped change the lives of other local people. It is supported by BBC One's Morning Live.

The finalists are:

• Butterfly Legacy Project (St Ives) - a group that raises money for different causes through its love of sewing
• Alright Mate? Fenland (Wisbech) - volunteers who give their time to men who need support
• Huntingdon Committee - a group of friends raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support
• Sabr Arts and Crafts Therapy Group for Women (Cambridge) - a creative group that supports women's mental health and confidence

The Young Hero Award is handed to an individual or group of young people under 16 who have made a positive impact in their community or achieved something exceptional.

The finalists are:

• Sophie, 13, volunteers her time helping younger children who attend the charity Little Miracles, organising games and activities for them and their families
• Henry and James, both 13, have shown dedication to wildlife conservation through their "Fenathlon" challenge, an endurance event covering 36 miles (58km), biking, kayaking and walking
• Hugo, 8, saved his mother and older brother when the car they were in crashed and started to fill with smoke
• Isabella, 12, took part in a 5km (3.1 miles) walk to raise money for Blood Cancer UK after losing her dad to leukaemia

This award is handed to an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause.

The finalists are:

• Jack Clarke (Sawtry) - completes endurance challenges for charity and volunteers for numerous local charitable events
• Luke Claxton (Huntingdon) - raised nearly £500,000 in his mother's memory
• Pearls Puzzle Library (March) - raises money through lending puzzles to people in the community
• Wendy Willis (Guyhirn) - fundraises for the East Anglian Air Ambulance after her husband had a freak accident

This is awarded to an individual who makes a notable difference to their community by giving their time voluntarily to help others.

The finalists are:

• Maureen Harrison (Wisbech) - helps out at Wisbech Adventure Playground, making a difference to the children who love her
• Jonathan Rippon (Peterborough) - runs Peterborough InTouch, arranging and leading social events for the local community
• John Willis (Cambridge) - founded Power2Inspire, which aims to bridge the gap between disabled and able-bodied people in sport
• Mahesh Hettiarachchi (Cambridge) - founded Hope Against Poverty, which supports distributes free and affordable food to thousands of people

Individuals who help to make the neighbourhood a better place to live or work, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness, are considered for this prize.

The finalists are:

• Justin Smith (Ely) - organises a variety of activities for his community, including litter picks and a run club
• Catherine Galloway (Cambridge) - started Little Free Library to promote reading and literature
• Jennie Storey (Peterborough) - worked to keep open Woodston's Library after it was threatened with closure
• Bernadetta Omondi (Peterborough) - offers her help to people in the community, including by delivering food and supporting vulnerable people

The Environmental Award is given to a group or an individual who help to make where they live more environmentally-friendly and better for nature.

The finalists are:

• Mohammed Saeed (Peterborough) - helps to improve the urban environment in his city by planting and creating community spaces
• Vhari Russell (Huntingdon) - led the creation of Rory's Wood, near Grafham Water, a project which will see 17,500 trees planted in her brother's memory
• Dick Newell (Landbeach) - initiated the first swift conference in the UK and has pioneered box designs to provide homes for more than 50,000 of the birds
• Project Abundance CIC (Peterborough) - this community hub grows food and connects people with gardening and nature

This award recognises an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people - or, a person or group of people working with animals to improve their welfare.

The finalists are:

• Duggee (Cambridge) - this dog supports hundreds of young people with anxiety and attendance, and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Sydney (Soham) - a 16-year-old pony helping students with SEND by being patient and reliable
• Nick Pugh (March) - takes his therapy dogs to schools and hospitals to offer emotional support and reduce anxiety
• Chrissie Fadpipe (March) - works to raise money and awareness for river birds by organising community charity calendars featuring the geese of March

This is awarded to an individual or group of people who have used physical activity or sport as a way of improving the lives of those in their community.

The finalists are:

• Deborah Liddington (Saffron Walden) - set up Active with Parkinson's Cambridge as a legacy to her father, and it runs classes for those with the disease
• Diversity Tennis (Ely) - rebuilds confidence, reduces loneliness and creates a sense of belonging through tennis
• U14 Boys coaching team, Shelford Rugby Club (Great Shelford) - its volunteers coach young people, providing a safe community with integrity, sportsmanship and kindness
• Women's Aid Charity Football Group (Peterborough) - an initiative to raise money through football for charities supporting women and children who have been affected by domestic abuse

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