Young carer among Make a Difference Awards finalists

A young carer who raised thousands of pounds for charity and a volunteer dog handler who helps find missing people are among the finalists for an award ceremony celebrating local heroes.

The BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference Awards has eight categories recognising those who love to make life better for others.

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

Winners for BBC Radio Solent will be selected by a panel of judges and will be crowned at an event on 22September. Here are some of the finalists.

Conor Thorne, from Southampton, volunteers as a dog handler with Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs, helping to locate vulnerable missing people.

He also trains specialist search dogs as well as volunteering at a German-shepherd rescue centre.

"My nan was a big catalyst for me to get involved in search and rescue," he said.

"She lived with dementia for a number of years. I didn't know anything about volunteer search teams until my nan used to go sort of wandering off on her own.

"It is a labour of love in terms of the hours and the commitment that it takes but it is a very rewarding job when all these training hours we put in comes to fruition and we find the missing person."

Jacob, from Poole, who is a Young Hero award finalist, makes personalised magic videos in return for sponsorship and has raised £5,000 for Muscular Dystrophy UK.

The 15-year-old also acts as a young carer to his mum, Louise, who lives with the muscle wasting condition.

Louise said: "I think obviously living with a mum who's got a disability isn't always easy, and I guess it comes with loss.

"But it also has a flip side and that people might not realise or see it's not all bad and I think Jacob has just grown up with disability being normal and he's very accepting and inclusive young person and always rails against injustice and is very aware of all minority groups.

"I think that's a real gift to the world at this time of division and hate as well."

She added: "We're really proud of him."

Nancy Weatherson from Milford on Sea is a Great Neighbour award finalist.

She set up deaf awareness classes in her village three years ago, aiming for it to become a deaf friendly community.

"I'm very, very proud of what we've achieved in our little village," she said.

"We raise so much deaf awareness. The village, it's just spread, it is so open, it's so inclusive.

"We have our vulnerable crew, our professional crew, our hearing crew, all mixing, all communicating... it's great teamwork."

Pam, who started to lose her hearing about two years ago and is now "profoundly deaf", said Weatherson had "changed her life".

"She gave me confidence to speak out, to say to people, hang on, I can't hear you. She has just given me back my life," she said.

Antony Waghorn from Southampton is an Active award finalist for his voluntary work as coach of the Botley Village U16 Pan Disability Team.

Waghorn said the sessions had been a "great opportunity for them to learn from trained coaches".

He also said they let people "come into a safe environment and play football that wouldn't ordinarily be open to them through mainstream schools".

"I've learned a lot from the children as well, so they've been absolutely fantastic," he said.

"All the coaches come away each week and say it's the highlight of their week."

Alex Peacock, who nominated Waghorn, said: "I'm not sure he realises quite how amazing he is.

"Ant volunteers as the head coach of my daughter's pan disability football team.

"What makes our team so special is that every child is different.

"Different ages, different disabilities, different needs, yet somehow Ant just makes it work.

"He meets every child exactly where they are and works out what they need to join him."

Peacock added: "Because of him, they are a team. They have friends and they're celebrated every single time."

The other categories for the awards are Fundraiser, Environmental, Community Group and Volunteer.