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Donate For Defib Weston-super-Mare Crowned Overall Winners at BBC Make A Difference Awards 2025

Josh Bell

Sep 29, 2025 — 2 min read

Donate For Defib team receiving their Award

By Josh Bell, Charities and Schools Correspondent

Donate For Defib Weston-super-Mare has been crowned the overall winner of the BBC Make A Difference Awards 2025 – Community Category, hosted by BBC Radio Bristol.

Founded in August 2023, the project has rapidly grown into a multi-award-winning community initiative, gaining recognition from local leaders including MP Daniel Aldridge and the High Sheriff of Somerset.

The BBC’s Community Award received more than 1,000 nominations, with Donate For Defib shortlisted in the final four before securing the overall win.

The deciding vote was cast by Janette Manrara, star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, who also shared a special personalised video message for the team.

Life-Saving Achievements

Since its launch, Donate For Defib Weston-super-Mare has:

Raised over £80,000 to provide community-access defibrillators.
Delivered CPR and defibrillator awareness sessions across the region.
Partnered with AMS Electrical for professional installation and maintenance.
Built collaborations with Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, and the Avon and Somerset Bleed Kit Partnership.
Expanded into education through work with the University of Bristol Medical School and Bristol Biomedical Simulation.
Supported the community with a 24/7 volunteer on-call phone system, while also contributing to the GoodSAM Responder System and Great Western HeartStarters.

Celebrating the Award

This latest accolade adds to the growing list of achievements for Donate For Defib, who continue to drive community-led solutions to improve survival from cardiac arrest.

Read the full BBC article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93903k5e9eo

Explore more about the project’s award highlights here: https://donatefordefibwsm.co.uk/winner-bbc-make-a-difference-award-2025-community-category/

Just email us at news@goodnewspost.co.uk.

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