Make a Difference Day

Joyce Ip - Friends of Brent River Park WON FIRST PRIZE she won a Canon Selphy ES1 Compact Photo Printer “Heavy downpours did not prevent 40 volunteers from turning up at a clean up and bulb planting event at Brent River Park in Wembley. The event was organised by Brent Council and the Young Friends of Brent River Park. Volunteers were split into two groups – one team carried out litter picking, whilst the other planted flower bulbs. Daffodil bulbs, which had been planted by volunteers six years ago, blossom every year in the park.” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Kirsty Hill - 2D, Bishop Auckland WON SECOND PRIZE She won an Olympus FE-26 Digital Camera. “Knitters in Bishop Auckland created dozens of woollen squares to help a women's refuge. The colourful squares were knitted during a series of craft workshops to mark Make a Difference Day, which were held in Woodhouse Close Church Community Centre. The workshops were supported by the Volunteer Centre at 2D, and aimed to bring different generations together. It was a great week for the community and for the women’s refuge who will benefit from the blankets.” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Brian Watson - Springboard Sunderland WON THIRD PRIZE £50 John Lewis vouchers “We volunteered in the Hetton Lyons Country Park, a man made park with lakes that were once pit ponds. Over 140 volunteers mostly 16 to 25 years old were involved in a number of environmental tasks including clearing algae and debris from the pond, thinning out woodland and litter picking.” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Ann Akerman - War Memorial Park, Coventry “We organised two activities for Make a Difference Day. First we planted bulbs and tidied the War Memorial Park, improving the appearance of the park and encouraging others to become more involved in the park. We also involved a group of children in an activity to produce pieces of art and craft work around the theme of autumn, encouraging team work and social skills and providing art work to brighten the park’s pavilions.” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Camilla Bassett Smith - CSV at BBC Wiltshire “We held a 'Buy One Give One Free' event at the Co-op in Highworth between 10am and 3pm to collect food for Swindon Food Bank. A table was set up in the supermarket foyer, and Swindon Food Bank provided banners and leaflets to be handed out listing items needed. The response was over-whelming with 4 full trolley loads of food being collected! BBC Wiltshire featured an interview on the Breakfast show ahead of the event and audio was collected from the day for use on the drive show and then breakfast the following morning. Swindon Food Bank was very impressed with the amount of food donated!” Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Suzanne Lockwood - Fernhill & Glenboi Communities First “The aim of our Make a Difference Day Activity was to create more awareness about Climate Change within our local community, as well as encouraging people to reduce their carbon emissions and become more energy efficient. Activities on the day included a Climate Change Exhibition with stalls and interactive activities relating to Climate Change, a Climate Change Football Tournament involving 14 teams of young people (aged 11 to 16 years) and a music workshop where we used drums and recycled materials to produce a rhythmic noise!” Photograph: guardian.co.uk