logo
BBC Make a Difference: Diversity project to expand after win

BBC Make a Difference: Diversity project to expand after win

BBC News25-02-2025
A man who won a BBC Make a Difference award for his work promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in schools now hopes to roll the programme out.Mahmut Gunaydin won the community award for his voluntary work with the Dialogue Society which aims to advance social cohesion.His Life of a Chickpea project follows a chickpea's journey as a metaphor for British values of democracy, individual liberty and mutual respect, and he hopes he can now take it to schools in other towns in the county. Meanwhile, Sue Holden, who won the great neighbour award, has urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards as it can "affect a whole community". Nominations close on 31 March.
Mr Gunaydin was selected as the winner by the actor Jeremy Irons, which he said was an "unexpected but brilliant" moment."It made me want to do more at a local level to promote these three key concepts of equality, diversity and inclusion," he said. "I think it's the best way to overcome division in our society."Lof of a Chickpea follows a chickpea's journey as a metaphor for understanding societal models, British values,He said winning the BBC award for Oxfordshire had raised the profile of the project, resulting in more inquiries from schools wanting to run the programme.
Mrs Holden won her award her community work Barton for 53 years. After retiring as the local newsagent in 2006, she took on a role at Barton Community Association community centre.She said: "I get a real buzz out of making a difference to people's lives."Mrs Holden helps organise activities and events, including free youth clubs, exercise classes, subsidised coach trips and a community larder. She said the award recognised the contribution of the whole team which worked "to breathe oxygen into the building, and make it come alive".Participation in exercise classes at the centre has "gone through the roof" since news of the award win was posted on the community association's newsletter and website, she said.Mrs Holden urged people to make a nomination for the 2025 awards if they knew someone deserving. "Please go ahead and do it because your nomination will make a difference to not just one person's life but it can affect a whole community. "Don't hesitate, you'll make somebody very happy."
How to nominate
The Make a Difference Awards recognise and celebrate people, across eight different categories, who are going above and beyond to make a difference where they live.Every BBC Local Radio station will host an awards ceremony in 2025.The awards are a chance to say "thank you" and show recognition and appreciation for people who love to make life better for others.Nominations can be made via the BBC Make a Difference website where you can also see full terms and the privacy notice.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Carol Kirkwood, 63, confesses there is 'no such thing as a perfect romance' after revealing her plans to retire and travel Europe with her husband Steve Randall, 49
Carol Kirkwood, 63, confesses there is 'no such thing as a perfect romance' after revealing her plans to retire and travel Europe with her husband Steve Randall, 49

Daily Mail​

time20 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Carol Kirkwood, 63, confesses there is 'no such thing as a perfect romance' after revealing her plans to retire and travel Europe with her husband Steve Randall, 49

has confessed there is 'no such thing as a perfect romance' after revealing she plans to retire in two years and her and travel Europe with her husband Steve Randall. The BBC weather veteran, 63, married police officer Steve, 49, in December 2023 - nine years after her divorce from property developer Jimmy Kirkwood. And now she has admitted that she thinks there is no such thing as the 'perfect romance' as she opened up about her divorce to the Daily Mirror. She told the publication: 'I feel sad when relationships break down. I was married before, and we got divorced, and it's always sad when that happens. 'But, of course, there isn't such a thing, I don't think, as the perfect romance - where you're never going to fall out or have cross words. Of course you are, that's life.' Carol and Steve - who have a 13-year age gap - got hitched in an 'intimate' wedding ceremony in Buckinghamshire in December 2023. Her comment comes after she revealed she hopes to retire in as little as two years so she can drive off into the sunset with her policeman husband. The TV star has been a fixture at the BBC for 27 years but has said she is planning a change of scene for her and Steve when she turns 65. Discussing her retirement hopes, Carol, who is also a published author, said: 'We fell in love with Majorca, which is where we went so I could research my fifth novel, Meet Me at Sunset, about a woman running away from a shattered love affair. 'Steve and I plan to escape and travel for some time when we retire, perhaps in a year or two. 'We'll travel in a camper van or get in the car, cross over to France and then just drive.' Carol, from Morar, Lochaber, was married to property developer Jimmy but the pair split in 2008 after 18 years of marriage, with the divorce finalised in 2012. She recently made a cheeky comment when asked about her second marriage, telling one newspaper: 'Love is lovelier the second time around. No disrespect to my first husband, but this is better.' Carol, who was on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, began her career at the BBC as a secretary before cross training with the Met Office and joining BBC News in 1998. She appears regularly across all of BBC Weather's output on both radio and TV and is the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast. The TV star also spoke about the age gap in her relationship, stating it makes no difference to her. She told Saga Magazine: 'Steve is 50 this year. Other people's opinions about an age gap don't matter - I don't feel he is younger than me.' She also said she believes that meeting him was fate. She said: 'We were at a function neither of us wanted to go to. It was a Sliding Doors moment - if I hadn't gone, we would never have met.' Discussing her relationship in another interview, she said: 'Love is lovelier the second time around. 'The wedding was the most perfect day. Storm Gerrit was raging outside and we didn't even notice. 'It was about us getting married rather than having a big, fancy wedding. We had no guests and wrote our own vows. 'When you are older, you know more what you want.'

Dame Cleo Laine, the ‘First Lady of Jazz', dies aged 97
Dame Cleo Laine, the ‘First Lady of Jazz', dies aged 97

Western Telegraph

time22 minutes ago

  • Western Telegraph

Dame Cleo Laine, the ‘First Lady of Jazz', dies aged 97

Nicknamed the First Lady of Jazz, she was a leading figure of the British jazz music scene along with her late husband, saxophonist Sir John Dankworth, for many years and worked with the likes of Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. The Stables, a charity and venue founded by Dame Cleo and Sir John, said in a statement it was 'greatly saddened' by the news that 'one of its founders and Life President, Dame Cleo Laine has passed away'. Jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine with her jazz musician husband Sir John Dankworth (Peter Jordan/PA) David Meadowcroft, chairman of the charity, said: 'Dame Cleo was a remarkable performer who was loved by audiences around the world, and her commitment to ensuring young people had access to great music and music education will continue through the work of The Stables.' Monica Ferguson, chief executive and artistic director of The Stables, said: 'Dame Cleo was admired greatly by fans, other musicians and by The Stables staff and volunteers. She will be greatly missed, but her unique talent will always be remembered.' Sir John, who had been a mainstay of the British jazz scene for more than 50 years, died aged 82 in 2010. She was the daughter of a Jamaican father and English mother whose childhood in Southall, west London, was supported by her father's busking talents. Her early singing experience started at home, with group family singalongs alongside her music-loving father. But before her musical career really took off, Dame Cleo was confined to the life of a hairdresser's assistant. She never gave up, entering talent contests and she sang on a semi-professional basis before finally auditioning for the Johnny Dankworth Seven. Dame Cleo Laine (Ian West/PA) After that, she never looked back. She and Sir John, who married in 1958, worked with some of the top names in the music business – and she scored a UK top 10 hit in 1961 with You'll Answer To Me. She previously told the PA news agency: 'At the age of three I was singing, because our family sang, and we entertained each other. So right from a very early age there was this kind of Cinderella dream that I was going to do all this. 'When I wrote my autobiography I realised it was quite a Cinderella story in some ways. 'To me the wonderful thing is actually having done it, not the accolade, but to be singing, and to be singing at the age I am now. That is the best part of it.' She became a dame in the 1997 Birthday Honours list, saying at the time: 'I am of course, deeply honoured, but I think they have got the reason for it slightly wrong. 'It is British jazz that should have received the accolade for its service to me – it has given me a wonderful life, a successful career and an opportunity to travel the globe doing what I love to do, listening to and working with some of the world's most creative musicians. 'I'm a very lucky lady and I'm extremely grateful.'

Dame Cleo Laine, the ‘First Lady of Jazz', dies aged 97
Dame Cleo Laine, the ‘First Lady of Jazz', dies aged 97

Glasgow Times

time23 minutes ago

  • Glasgow Times

Dame Cleo Laine, the ‘First Lady of Jazz', dies aged 97

Nicknamed the First Lady of Jazz, she was a leading figure of the British jazz music scene along with her late husband, saxophonist Sir John Dankworth, for many years and worked with the likes of Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. The Stables, a charity and venue founded by Dame Cleo and Sir John, said in a statement it was 'greatly saddened' by the news that 'one of its founders and Life President, Dame Cleo Laine has passed away'. Jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine with her jazz musician husband Sir John Dankworth (Peter Jordan/PA) David Meadowcroft, chairman of the charity, said: 'Dame Cleo was a remarkable performer who was loved by audiences around the world, and her commitment to ensuring young people had access to great music and music education will continue through the work of The Stables.' Monica Ferguson, chief executive and artistic director of The Stables, said: 'Dame Cleo was admired greatly by fans, other musicians and by The Stables staff and volunteers. She will be greatly missed, but her unique talent will always be remembered.' Sir John, who had been a mainstay of the British jazz scene for more than 50 years, died aged 82 in 2010. She was the daughter of a Jamaican father and English mother whose childhood in Southall, west London, was supported by her father's busking talents. Her early singing experience started at home, with group family singalongs alongside her music-loving father. But before her musical career really took off, Dame Cleo was confined to the life of a hairdresser's assistant. She never gave up, entering talent contests and she sang on a semi-professional basis before finally auditioning for the Johnny Dankworth Seven. Dame Cleo Laine (Ian West/PA) After that, she never looked back. She and Sir John, who married in 1958, worked with some of the top names in the music business – and she scored a UK top 10 hit in 1961 with You'll Answer To Me. She previously told the PA news agency: 'At the age of three I was singing, because our family sang, and we entertained each other. So right from a very early age there was this kind of Cinderella dream that I was going to do all this. 'When I wrote my autobiography I realised it was quite a Cinderella story in some ways. 'To me the wonderful thing is actually having done it, not the accolade, but to be singing, and to be singing at the age I am now. That is the best part of it.' She became a dame in the 1997 Birthday Honours list, saying at the time: 'I am of course, deeply honoured, but I think they have got the reason for it slightly wrong. 'It is British jazz that should have received the accolade for its service to me – it has given me a wonderful life, a successful career and an opportunity to travel the globe doing what I love to do, listening to and working with some of the world's most creative musicians. 'I'm a very lucky lady and I'm extremely grateful.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store