BBC Northern Ireland Make a Difference Awards Celebrate Eight Community Heroes at Belfast Ceremony
Eight individuals and organisations from across Northern Ireland were honoured at the BBC Make a Difference Awards ceremony at BBC Blackstaff Studios in Belfast on Thursday, 25 September, in an evening that celebrated the quiet, persistent work of volunteers who transform their communities without expectation of recognition.
Background
The BBC Make a Difference Awards have become one of the most anticipated events in Northern Ireland's community calendar since their establishment, providing a platform to recognise the extraordinary contributions of ordinary people who give their time, energy, and expertise to improve the lives of those around them. The awards span a range of categories designed to capture the breadth of community contribution, from environmental activism to fundraising, from youth mentorship to animal-assisted therapy.
This year's ceremony took place against a backdrop of considerable social pressure in Northern Ireland, with communities across the province navigating the ongoing Drumcree dispute, rising energy costs, and the persistent challenges of mental health provision. The awards offered a deliberate counterpoint to that narrative — a reminder that alongside the political tensions and institutional failures that dominate the headlines, thousands of people across the six counties are quietly making their communities better places to live.
Nominations for the 2026 awards were submitted by members of the public, with a panel of judges drawn from civic, cultural, and community life selecting the winners from a shortlist of finalists. The volume of nominations received this year was described by organisers as the highest in the awards' history, reflecting both the depth of community engagement in Northern Ireland and the public appetite to celebrate it.
Key Developments
The Volunteer Award went to Noah Holden from Saintfield, who was recognised for his work with AccessoLoo, an initiative that improves access to public toilet facilities for people with disabilities and complex medical needs. Holden, who has personal experience of the challenges faced by those with hidden disabilities, has campaigned tirelessly to expand the Changing Places network across Northern Ireland.
The Young Hero Award was presented to Ollie Harbinson from Antrim, who established a peer support programme in his school that has provided a safe space for students experiencing anxiety, isolation, and mental health difficulties. Harbinson, who is still in secondary school himself, was praised by judges for his maturity and empathy in addressing a need that formal services have struggled to meet.
The Great Neighbour Award went to Stella McGinn from Castledawson, who has campaigned for improved school bus safety in her area following a series of near-misses on rural roads. McGinn's advocacy led to a review of bus routes and the installation of additional safety measures at several stops in the Mid Ulster area.
The Active Award was presented to the Mencap NI Healthier Me Ambassadors, a group of individuals with learning disabilities who have become advocates for physical activity and healthy living within their communities. The Community Group Award went to the Little Forget Me Nots Trust in Lurgan, which provides support to families navigating the devastating experience of baby loss. The Animal Award recognised Sebastian, an NSPCC therapy dog whose work with vulnerable children has been described by practitioners as genuinely transformative. The Environmental Award went to Daniel McAfee from Ballycastle, who has dedicated years to red squirrel conservation and habitat restoration in the Glens of Antrim. The Fundraiser Award was presented to the David James Richmond Foundation in Newtownabbey, which has installed community defibrillators across North Belfast and the greater Newtownabbey area.
Why It Matters
The Make a Difference Awards serve a function that extends beyond the recognition of individual achievement. They document a form of social capital that is often invisible in official statistics and policy discussions — the networks of care, mutual aid, and civic engagement that hold communities together in the absence of adequate statutory provision. In Northern Ireland, where the legacy of the Troubles continues to shape community relations and where public services face chronic underfunding, this informal infrastructure is not a supplement to formal provision but often its replacement.
The breadth of this year's winners — from a teenager in Antrim to a conservation volunteer in Ballycastle, from a Lurgan charity to a Saintfield disability advocate — reflects the geographic and demographic diversity of community engagement across the province. It is a reminder that the impulse to improve one's community is not confined to any particular background, age group, or political tradition.
Local Impact
The practical impact of the recognised work is tangible and measurable. AccessoLoo's advocacy has resulted in new Changing Places facilities in several Northern Ireland towns, directly improving quality of life for people with complex needs and their carers. The Little Forget Me Nots Trust has supported hundreds of families in the Lurgan and wider Armagh area through one of the most difficult experiences a family can face. The David James Richmond Foundation's defibrillator programme has placed life-saving equipment in communities across Newtownabbey and North Belfast where response times from emergency services can be dangerously long.
What's Next
Several of this year's winners have indicated plans to expand their work following the recognition and increased public profile that the awards bring. The Little Forget Me Nots Trust is exploring the possibility of establishing a dedicated support centre in Lurgan, while the David James Richmond Foundation has set a target of installing a further twenty defibrillators across North Belfast by the end of 2027. Noah Holden has been invited to address the Stormont Assembly's All-Party Group on Disability to present the case for a province-wide Changing Places expansion programme.
