THE spotlight shines on local heroes in the North-West of the city in the latest round of the Evening Times Community Champions Awards.

The search is on for kind-hearted individuals and organisations who will be recognised for their tireless efforts to help make a difference. And we need you to tell us who they are.

Without our Community Champions, Glasgow would be a much poorer place.

These are the remarkable people who give up their own time to help others, the unsung heroes who make life better for so many colleagues, friends and neighbours.

We have already rewarded more than 300 community champions from across the city in previous years, and now we want to hear more about the people from the North-West of the city who make Glasgow great in the sixth season of the awards.

Whether you or someone you know has made a difference by caring for others, campaigning for better services, or in general creating a positive environment, we want you to tell us about it.

These are the inspira-tional people who will be crowned our 2014 Community Champions.

The deadline for entries from the North-West of Glasgow is Thursday, September 11 and the awards ceremony will take place at Partick Burgh Hall on October 2, hosted by Evening Times columnist and Pop Idol winner Michelle McManus.

The awards are open to everyone, and anyone can nominate a team, public servant or themselves.

You could nominate the coach of a sports club, or a parent who organises after-school activities, a pensioner who takes on housing issues, or a uniformed officer who has saved lives.

A list of nominees will be published in the Evening Times and on our website.

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 again working in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland, who will assist in our search for this year's champions.

The finalists will be chosen at three events which will take place across the city: the North-East, South and North-West, from areas such as Baillieston and Carntyne to Ruchazie, Springboig and Tollcross.

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

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 Glasgow.

"They are the people who make this a better place to live and to work.

"Those we honour and thank at Community Champions are people who don't want hand-outs or pity. They are people who want to help a neighbour or to right a wrong.

"They are people 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."

To nominate a Comm-unity Champion, contact Claire Reid on 0141 302 7319 or email claire.reid@heraldandtimes.co.uk.

angela.mcmanus@ eveningtimes.co.uk