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Make a Difference Awards - Award Rules

Amended 12/02/24 18:30

1. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s Terms of Use apply to this Award, find at www.bbc.co.uk/terms. For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of the Terms of Use nominations are not considered a creation.

Eligibility

2. In order to nominate someone, you must be a UK resident (including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) aged 18 or over, and not be a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ or Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Group company employee, employee of any of its affiliates, close relative of any such employees or connected to the awards competition directly or through a close relative.

3. To be eligible, the nominee must:

  • 3.1. make a difference in the lives of others where;
    • 3.1.1. this does not normally form part of their job or normally take place at their place of work unless such help goes above and beyond their paid work activities in which case an explanation will be required within your 250 word nomination (see clause 6); or
    • 3.1.2. a Volunteer goes above and beyond in their voluntary activities in which case an explanation will be required within your 250 word nomination (see clause 6).

  • 3.2. in the opinion of the person nominating be deserving of a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Award;
  • 3.3. not bring the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ into disrepute (in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s sole discretion);
  • 3.4. have consented or have parental consent to be nominated; and
  • 3.5. be located near a participating Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ local radio station (see nomination form for the list of participating stations).

A ‘Volunteer’ can be someone who is paid for some of their time but also chooses to give up some time without pay.

4. Where a nomination will be ineligible:

  • 4.1. You cannot nominate yourself or a group you are a part of.
  • 4.2. Those working in a campaigning position, politicians, council members, and charity spokespersons are not eligible for nomination.
  • 4.3. Any previously shortlisted nominees or award winners of a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Make a Difference Award cannot be nominated again within the same award category in consecutive years.
  • 4.4. Any Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ or Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Group company employees, employees of any of its affiliates, close relatives of any such employees or connected to the award directly or through a close relative cannot be nominated.

5. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested. The nominator will need permission from the nominee or the nominee's parents/guardians if the nominee is under 18 years of age.

How to nominate

6. Nominations can be made online at www.bbc.co.uk/makeadifference. Please provide as much information as possible to ensure the nomination can be judged for one of the categories below. Nominations will be judged on the information supplied on the online form and no additional material will be considered. The nomination should also be for the radio station area in which the nominee is based. Nominations must be up-to but no more than 250 words. Should you wish to make the nomination in a language other than English, please use the same online form and we will use online translation software to read your entry.

7. Nominations open at 6am on Monday 5th February and must be received no later than 11pm on Sunday 10th March 2024. Any nominations received after this time will not be accepted.

  • 7.1. For Channel Islands nominations only: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Jersey and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Guernsey are looking for one person or group to win a Make a Difference Award 2024 per radio station. You can nominate for any category using our online form and there are no changes to the requirements for each category.

8. Nominations made using generative AI will be disqualified.

9. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ team may contact the nominator, the nominee (his/her parent or guardian, where applicable) to verify facts and/or events, and whether the relevant consents/permissions have been obtained. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ may share nomination information submitted in the 250 words with nominees.

10. For accessibility assistance, please contact your local Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ radio station.

Award Categories

11. The categories and criteria to qualify for nomination and on which winners will be selected are:

  • 11.1. The Volunteer Award: Awarded to an individual who makes a notable difference to the community by giving their time voluntarily to help others.
  • 11.2. The Morning Live Make a Difference Community Award: Awarded to an individual or group of people who have helped to genuinely change the lives of others within the community.
  • 11.3. The Fundraiser Award: Awarded to an individual or group of people who have gone the extra mile to raise funds for a good cause.
  • 11.4. The Carer Award: Awarded to someone who improves the life of an individual or group of people through their helpfulness, compassion and support.
  • 11.5. The Great Neighbour Award: Awarded to an individual who helps to make the neighbourhood a better place to live or work, either on a regular basis or through a single act of kindness.
  • 11.6. The Bravery Award: Awarded to an individual or group of people who has shown outstanding courage, defiance and duty in the face of perceived danger, fear or difficulty.
  • 11.7. The Green Award: Awarded to an individual or group of people who help to make where we live more environmentally friendly and better for nature.
  • 11.8. The Animal Award: Awarded to an animal that improves the life of an individual or group of people or a person or group of people working with animals to improve animal welfare.

Judging Process

12. The Make a Difference team will do an initial sift of all entries before a longlist is passed to the judges.

13. A panel of external judges and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ representatives for each radio station area will review the longlist and select a shortlist of four finalists per category from the nominations in that region.

14. The four nominees who have been shortlisted will be notified from 29th April 2024. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will contact the nominators and nominees to arrange a broadcast interview and/or to film them for social media videos. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ may also contact the nominators to arrange a broadcast interview and/or to film them for social media videos.

15. Another judge in each region and for each category will select a winner from the four finalists in that region and category.

16. For Channel Islands only: The nominations from each of the categories will be judged together by the judging panel and an overall winner for a Make a Difference Award 2024 for each radio station will be selected, rather than for each individual category.

17. All finalists will be invited to an award ceremony for the region in which they were nominated in 2024 where the winners of each category will be announced. The finalists invited to the award ceremony shall be responsible for all travel expenses and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ shall not be responsible for any other fee, expense or cost.

18. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's decision as to the winners is final. Whilst we do not have the resources to engage in correspondence with every individual and feedback as to the merits of a particular entry will not be made available normally, we aim to be as inclusive as possible. If you have any questions or if you have any issues in submitting or completing the form, please let us know at: england@bbc.co.uk.

19. The award ceremonies will be recorded and the audio and video will be edited and used for broadcast and social media.

20. The prize will consist of a trophy. There is no cash alternative and the prize cannot be sold or transferred in any circumstances. No commercial gain can be made from using or referencing the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ brand, the award itself or any other element of this awards process.

21. Nominees and nominators must agree to take part in any pre or post-award publicity if required.

General

22. The Award team may undertake social media checks of entrants to the Award. Entrants warrant they have not acted or omitted to act in a manner that will bring the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ into disrepute. Information discovered or that may have been disclosed by the entrants themselves will inform the decision as to the selection of the finalists. Disqualification will not be automatic but the decision is in the sole discretion of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ. Information will be shared with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s editorial policy advisor for the Make a Difference Awards 2024 and be handled in the strictest confidence and as with all personal data, in accordance with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ’s Privacy Notice.

23. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ reserves the right to: (i) vary these Rules, including but not limited to, opening and close times of the awards nominations and the award ceremonies; (ii) disqualify any nomination that breaches the rules, is fraudulent in any way or brings the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ into disrepute; (iii) move nominees into another category should they see fit and (iv) cancel the awards, at any stage, if in its opinion it is deemed necessary or if circumstances arise outside its control.

24. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, their sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure, loss of data via use of a third-party email platform or malfunction or any other problem which may result in any nomination not being properly registered.

25. Persons nominating and nominees will be deemed to have accepted these rules and agree to be bound by them.

26. The promoter of the awards is the British Broadcasting Corporation, and these Rules are subject to the laws of England and Wales.

27. To the extent that it applies, these Awards comply with the .

28. To the extent permitted by law, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ will not be liable for any loss or damage (whether such damage or losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise) including financial, reputational loss or disappointment.

29. To find out how we will use your personal data please read our Privacy Notice here. If you want to withdraw your submission or request that your personal data is removed then please email england@bbc.co.uk - for more information please see the Privacy Notice. Removal of your personal data may result in your withdrawal from the Awards.