SATEMENT ON SQUASH WITHDRAWING FROM BBC MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARDS

25TH SEPTEMBER 2025

Squash Liverpool C.I.C were recently shortlisted for the BBC’s Make a Difference Awards 2025 in the Green/Environmental category. After discussion with our board and team, we have decided to withdraw from the awards process and ceremony taking place this evening.

Alongside many in our community, we at Squash are deeply concerned about the BBC’s ongoing biased reporting on the genocide in Gaza/Occupied Palestinian Territories, and as such we cannot align ourselves with the BBC.

The Centre for Media Monitoring’s 2025 report ‘concludes that the BBC is systematically biased against Palestinians in Gaza war coverage. Analysis of 35,000+ pieces of BBC content shows Israeli deaths given 33 times more coverage, per fatality, and significantly more emotive language.’

Squash believes in a Free Palestine and we will continue to raise awareness of and outrage about the genocide of the people of Palestine by Israel. Our solidarity work has included sharing information, community walks, multi-lingual poster making (‘Call for a Permanent Ceasefire’ & ‘Food is a Human Right’), seed-plantings, creating spaces for community members to share thoughts, feelings, knowledge & information about the atrocities taking place, and fundraising for Medical Aid for Palestinians, All Our Relations and the Union of Agricultural Work Committees/Local Seed Bank in Palestine via Exeter Seed Bank at our regular seasonal events.

Please get in touch if you’d like to get involved. Our next gathering is Samhain on Saturday 1st November.

Free Palestine.

Big love to our Habibti Liverpool sisters who have also withdrawn from the awards.