You know the person. They're in every community — the neighbour who checks in on the elderly couple down the road, the teenager who organises litter picks after school, the volunteer who gives up every Saturday to run the local food bank. They never ask for thanks. They probably wouldn't know what to do with it if they got it.

The BBC Make a Difference Awards exist to find exactly these people — and this year, nominations close at 5pm on Monday 31 March. That gives you the weekend to think about who deserves a moment in the spotlight.

BBC Radio Scotland is one of the key partners behind the awards, which are now in their fourth year. Last year, more than 12,500 people across the UK were nominated by friends, family and neighbours who wanted the world to know about someone special. This year, the BBC is hoping for even more.

The categories

There are eight awards up for grabs, covering just about every way a person — or indeed an animal — can make a difference:

  • The Volunteer Award — for someone who gives their time freely to help others
  • The Young Hero Award — for anyone under 16 making a positive impact
  • The Great Neighbour Award — for the person who makes your street, your village or your community a better place
  • The Animal Award — for a remarkable animal that improves lives, or someone who works to improve animal welfare
  • The Community Group Award — for a group effort that's changed lives
  • The Fundraiser Award — for going the extra mile to raise money for a good cause
  • The Active Award — for using sport or physical activity to improve community life
  • The Environmental Award — for protecting or improving the local environment

Inspiration from past winners

If you need a nudge, consider some of last year's winners. Frazer Tibbitts, just 11 years old and registered blind, won the Young Hero Award for his infectious audio match commentaries on his beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers. Through Beacon's Talking Newspaper Fanzone, Frazer's vivid descriptions help reduce isolation for blind and visually impaired listeners. He told the BBC he wants to help other blind people "think positively."

Then there's Janet Willoner from Boroughbridge, who won the Green Award after growing and donating more than 4,000 trees from her own garden. Her work caught the attention of Radio 4's Woman's Hour, where she offered a line worth remembering: "What I can do is just a drop in the ocean, but an ocean is made up of lots of drops."

How to nominate

It takes just a few minutes. Head to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference and fill in the nomination form before 5pm on Monday 31 March.

You don't need to write an essay — just tell the BBC who your person is, what they do, and why it matters. The awards are supported across Scotland by BBC Radio Scotland, with winners announced in September at ceremonies hosted by the BBC's local and nations radio stations.

As BBC Director of Nations Rhuanedd Richards put it: "The Make a Difference Awards are a powerful reminder of the kindness, generosity and community spirit that exists in every community across the UK."

Broadcaster and singer Michelle McManus helped launch this year's nominations on BBC One's The One Show alongside presenter Gaby Roslin — a sign of just how seriously the BBC takes these awards, and the communities they celebrate.

So this weekend, have a think. Who's the person in your life who deserves a thank you on a much bigger stage? You've got until Monday. Don't let it pass.