First ever Make a Difference Day to celebrate power of volunteering on BBC Local Radio

BBC Local Radio is marking its first ever Make a Difference Day on Friday 5 June, as part of National Volunteers’ Week (Monday 1 June to Sunday 7 June), encouraging people across the country to give back by volunteering in their local communities.

The day will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary impact of volunteering, showcasing inspiring stories of people who give their time, skills and compassion to support others. 

Through dedicated programming and content across 39 BBC Local Radio stations in England, as well as the national stations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the day will also explore the wider social challenges volunteering can help to address, from tackling isolation to strengthening local communities. 

Presenters from radio stations up and down the country will be out and about, volunteering in their own communities. Everything from painting local youth centres and dry-stone walling to cleaning riverbanks and singing in care homes. BBC Local Radio stations are also encouraging their listeners to get involved themselves by searching out the many volunteering opportunities across the UK by going to the Make a Difference website. 

BBC Morning Live will also be partnering with Local Radio and BBC Radio Merseyside’s very own Kevin Duala who will be reporting on the ground and seeing, first hand, the many projects where people are indeed making a difference. 

Gaby Roslin, Presenter of the Make a Difference Show, which broadcasts across the whole BBC Local network every Sunday said: “BBC Make a Difference Day is about celebrating everyday acts of kindness and shining a light on the volunteers who hold our communities together. Up and down the UK we get to hear each week of people doing the most amazing life-changing things, but we want to hear more and love to celebrate the positive stories and share them far and wide.” 

Chris Burns, Head of Local Audio Commissioning said: "Make a Difference is a wonderful initiative and the awards are probably my favourite events to attend for BBC Local Radio. We have been celebrating those that go above and beyond in their communities since its inception during the pandemic. But recently we started to ask what is next?! Can we do even more?

"That’s how Make A Difference Day came about, and it just naturally seemed like the next evolution for the campaign, especially coinciding it with National Volunteering Week. It is an excellent way of reminding people of the power of helping their own communities and how doing even a little bit can go a long way.”   

Listeners are invited to tune in on Friday 5 June to their BBC Local Radio station to celebrate their local heroes and find out how they can get involved in volunteering opportunities in their area. 

BBC Local provides impartial and distinctive output rooted in the communities of England through 39 local radio stations, online news and digital output, market-leading regional news bulletins on BBC One and unrivalled local sports coverage.

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