POP Idol winner and Evening Times columnist Michelle McManus is going back to her roots to help us launch this year's Community Champions season of awards.

The East Ender will be hosting the first night in the north-east of the city on Thursday at the GESH Centre in Garthamlock. And she is delighted to be involved.

She said: "My family are from Cranhill and I grew up in Baillieston, so I am East End born and bred.

"I know so many community champions in everyday life, from my dad running the local football team to the woman who runs a charity group which takes children to Lourdes.

"But it was not until the Evening Times started a project like this that they got a massive thank you and recognition for all their efforts.

"Between running youth centres for children in deprived areas to helping the homeless and organising local charities, it is amazing what people do and these acts are all selfless.

"The common theme that runs through them all is that there is never an ulterior motive, these are all good deeds."

The Community Champions awards celebrate the unsung heroes who think of others before themselves.

In this, our sixth season of the awards, kind-hearted individuals and organisations will be recognised for their tireless efforts to help make a difference.

They are the remarkable people without whom Glasgow would be a poorer place.

Michelle added: "This is the first time I have been involved with Community Champions so I am really excited about it.

"I expect it to be an emotional event and for me to be totally overwhelmed and humbled by what I am about to hear. It is an amazing event to be involved in."

After a call for nominations last month, entries have been flooding in from the north-east.

Geeza Break, Kano Foundation, Mile End Out Of School Care and The Spark are all in the running for the Team Award, which goes to a local team or group of volunteers who make a difference to their community by improving amenities or raising the quality of life for residents.

Beth Aitken, Connie O'Hara, Joe Mackin and Tracy Steell have been nominated for the Individual Award, which is for someone who gives up their free time to make a significant contribution to other people's lives.

Action FOR Children Genr8, Jackie Ewing, John Riach and Peek are all up for the Public Services Award that rewards a public service team or individual who has gone that extra mile and continually demonstrates a can do attitude.

Community Enforcement team Cranhill, Easterhouse Commu­nity Police, Paul Blackwood and Constable Stevie Woods are nominated for the Uniform Services Award, which goes to an extraordinary team or individual from the uniformed services.

Betty Pristy, Jean Steell, Mary Dunn and Agnes Collins, Maureen and Michael Ferrie and Unity Lunch Club are all hopefuls for the Senior Award, which is presented to individuals or teams aged 60 and over who, after many years of hard work, continue to devote much of their time to helping others.

Gladiator Programme-Magnificent 7, PEEK Young Volunteers, Reidvale Youth 'n' Action Young Volunteers and Ryan Duke are vying for the Young Award, for individuals or teams aged 17 and under.

Community Transport Glasgow, FARE Glasgow, Greater Easterhouse Alcohol Awareness Project (GEAAP) and the Happy Club Committee are up for the Health and Wellbeing Award, which recognises groups, projects or individuals that promote the improvement of health and wellbeing within their communities.

Active-East, Daniel Richardson, Glasgow City Basketball Club and Glasgow Girls FC have been nominated for the Sports Award, recognising those working at grassroots level to encourage participation in sport and fitness ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Evening Times' editor Tony Carlin said: "The Community Champion Awards are about celebrating the individuals and organisations who are the very lifeblood of communities across the Glasgow.

"They are the people who make this a better place in which to live and work. Those we honour and thank at Community Champions are people who do not want hand-outs or pity.

"They are people who want to help a neighbour or to right a wrong, who want to make a positive contribution to their streets, their communities, their city.

"They are simply typical Glaswegians and proud of it. And we should all be proud of them."

The finalists, decided by a judging panel made up of representatives from the awards partners, will take their place in our hall of fame, joining an illustrious band of local heroes who strive to improve the lives of others.

We are delighted to again be working in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland, who have each helped in our search for this year's champions.

The finalists will be chosen at three events that will take place across the city: this first one in the north-east, then south and north-west, from as far afield as Baillieston and Carntyne to Ruchazie, Springboig and Tollcross.

The winners from each local event will automatically be selected as finalists for a glittering awards ceremony in the City Chambers in December to crown the Champions of Champions.

angela.mcmanus@ eveningtimes.co.uk