Therapy dog among Make a Difference Awards nominees

A therapy dog and a football team for refugees and asylum seekers are among the finalists for an award ceremony celebrating local heroes.

The BBC Radio Oxford Make a Difference Awards has eight categories, recognising those who love to make life better for others in the county.

To date, millions of people have been involved in Make a Difference across BBC radio stations.

Winners for Oxfordshire will be selected by a panel of judges and will be crowned at a special event on Tuesday.

Youth and community worker Karis Daniels, from Oxford, is a nominee in the volunteer category.

She said it was the "devastating" loss of her brother to knife crime that "completely reshaped my purpose, fuelling a deep need to give back and protect future generations".

"Driven by this experience, I work as a youth and community worker to provide vulnerable young people with the positive guidance and safe spaces they need to steer away from violence," she said.

"I continue because every breakthrough proves that when we heal mothers and guide youth, we break cycles of trauma and build a stronger, more inclusive community where no family is left to struggle alone."

Oxford Phoenix FC - an amateur football team exclusively for refugees and asylum seekers - has been nominated for the active award.

Last season marked the club's first ever within the English football pyramid, four years after being founded in 2021.

"It's about uplifting people and helping our players realise their true potential, not just as footballers, but as people," said Youcef El-Barhdadi, the team's founder and chairman.

"We're living in a world where refugees and asylum seekers are seen in a negative light and I suppose we exist to prove that that's not the case."

Player Arvin arrived in Oxford earlier this year from Iran, where the Islamic Republic's government has systematically oppressed the Kurdish minority of which he is part.

The 18-year-old said joining the Phoenix had helped him "find a lot of friends" in his new city, adding that the club "basically means family".

Sandhills Naturehood is part of a project designed by the charity Earthwatch to bring nature to communities in Oxford.

"We want to encourage our community in caring for its wildlife and environment," the group, which is a nominee in the environmental category, said.

"And we want to do this with equally important benefits of meeting neighbours, making friends, learning and having fun, building on our community spirit and all whilst helping create and connect habitats and wildlife now and for future generations.

"We encourage participation and interest in our local community, with no prior knowledge necessary - part of the fun is learning as we go."

Stanley is a therapy dog who, alongside his owner Sheila Cook, volunteers to support the wellbeing of Oxford's thousands of university students.

He has been nominated in the animal category.

The stabyhoun qualified with Pets As Therapy last year, and visits St John's College, where he regularly joins students for walks around University Park.

"Stanley visits students to provide comfort, companionship and a break from academic pressures," Cook said.

"His presence helps create a more relaxed, positive atmosphere and encourages students to take time out from their workloads."

Active

• Ryan Goodenough
• Sarah Grylls
• Oxford Phoenix FC
• Segen Michael

Animal

• Happy Hooves
• One Wish Dog Foundation
• Stanley the dog

Community Group

• Youth Challenge
• Footprints Baby Loss Twin & Triplet Support
• Julie Hinton and The Music Club for Disabled Young People
• Dementia Active

Environmental

• Cherwell Collective
• Seth Parker
• Earth Trust Volunteers
• Sandhills Naturehood

Fundraiser

• The Ashman Family
• Luke Froude
• Healing Military Minds
• Laura Kenyon-Slane

Great Neighbour

• Kerry Mellor
• Anna Palmrock
• Barbara Naylor
• Jayne Clarke

Volunteer

• Andrew Wickham
• Jo Doherty
• Mike Caffrey
• Karis Daniels

Young Hero

• Iyla Johal
• Rosie Barker
• Mila Wilson
• Ryan In