IT might have been a dreich day but the sun came out last night when the south side celebrated the achievements of the area’s Community Champion 2015 finalists.

After a dazzling show by Karen Burns School of Dance, the host for the evening, entertainer and Evening Times columnist Michelle McManus, took to the stage.

She said she was honoured to be at Castlemilk Community Centre to meet the finalists, including 19-year-old Jade Reid from the Gorbals who is chairman of the youth committee at the Barn Youth Centre and was nominated for the Individual Award.

The perfect example of the venue’s positive outcomes, she has been attending the Barn for the past eight years, helping to organise community events and working to raise money to support it.

A role model for young people, she motivates others and has been described as exceptional because of her passion and dedication to her community.

“I really enjoy helping other people. I’m at the Barn three nights week and sometimes at the weekend too if we have events.”

Other finalists in that category included Claire Dick is the hands-on manager of the David Cargill Centre, getting involved in everything from admin to cooking. She isn’t frightened to take on a challenge and her enthusiasm is infectious.

Gerry Mullen is the driving force behind Gateway Residents Association, set up in 2008 after he realised how distressed the local area was becoming. His ambition to make a difference and bring the community together has ensured the area changes for the better.

David Ferguson of South West Arts and Music Project (SWAMP) was delighted to be at the event with nine members of the charity that is based in North Pollok.

Nominated for the Public Service Awards, the was developed by a group of local musicians, artists and residents and uses the arts to enhance literacy, cultural awareness and community spirit. Over the past 20 years they have taken a dilapidated building and transformed it into a high-tech media facility, including an art room and film studio.

Now recognised as an SQA accredited learning centre, SWAMP delivers employability training on behalf of Skills Development Scotland.

“The young people with us have taken the courses and have all found work through SWAMP,” he said with pride.

Other finalists in the category were Govanhill Baths Community Trust, set up in 2005 as a community-based hub in the heart of the local area. The team there provide free health and wellbeing educational workshops and classes.

Their aim is to reopen the baths as a wellbeing centre with three pools, a health suite and other sports initiatives.

Set up in 2003, volunteering has been at the heart of the success of The Hidden Gardens Trust. They work hard to keep the gardens as a beautiful, bio-diverse area for the community to enjoy. The gardening work of the volunteers also takes place throughout the local area, including Pollok Park, Pollokshields East train station, local allotments and a cafe.

Watch manager John Brodie said he felt humbled to be at the final as he wasn’t a volunteer – he was only doing his job.

The fire safety manager previously worked as an operational fire fighter and training officer. He is dedicated to making the communities of Glasgow safe from fire by providing fire safety education across the south side to schools, youth groups, adult support groups and voluntary organisations.

“It’s just great to be part of it all. I visit a lot of schools and groups with the aim of keeping the community safe.”

The pancreatic unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary was also nominated in the same category. The main unit in the region, seeing no less than 34 patients at any one time. Despite the busy environment, the staff ensure patients are kept as comfortable as possible, with many people who have received treatment going on to fundraise for the unit.

Fellow nominee watch manager Paul Blackwood is the line manager for the Community Action Teams across the city. He is also embedded with the city council to provide communication between the local authority, third sector, police, housing, education, health and the fire service.

This communication is essential in providing community safety across Glasgow.

Senior Award finalists

Anna Singleton is in her 70s and has been volunteering at the David Cargill Centre for the pas 18 years. In that time she has been involved in many of the centre’s activities, including taking seniors on holiday and helping them with their daily needs.

She has made a huge impact in the centre and is known forndly as “Hurricane Anna” for her larger-lthan-life character.

Govan born and raised, George Rountree has written three books about his experiences in the area in the early 1930s and in 1945. He set up Pollokshaws Heritage Group for local seniors in the community to meet and talk about days gone by.

He remains as passionate about the area as ever and at the age of 83 shows no signs of slowing down in his creation of a legacy for the local arera.

Lord John James Robert Stringfellow, better known as Jimmy, is the leader of the show people community in Govan and has been a committee member for the past two decades, supporting the procession, workshops and festival activities.

He supported the Old Govan Fair, which looked on the verge of collapse two years ago, helping to revive it.

Now in his 70s, Jimmy has championed the rights of the show people all his life.

Young Award finalists

The 3Bs is a partnership programme between Ardenglen Housing Association and Castlemilk High School. Set up last October it includes six first year pupils who visit the pensioners known as “the younger at heart” residents from Ardglen.

Crookston Castle and St Marnock’s primary schools work together as part of the Sense Over Sectarian Communities United Programme, set up to change opinions through education work.

Each year all four primary seven classes take part in workshops to form new friendships and bridge the gap between religions within the community.

Declan McCaughey is only 12 years old but has already been called a natural leader after getting involved with a number of organisation in the community.

He helps out with activities at the Barn Youth Centre and has headed up fundraising activities and events to keep the centre running.

A group of six pupils from Lourdes Secondary School set up a group to raise awareness of young people’s mental health issues in their school and beyond and in the past year they have raised money for mental health charity SAMH.

They set up a business called Frulatto, making healthy smoothies, and are now branching out to offer the franchise to other local schools.

Health and Wellbeing Award finalists

Fair Deal Help Yourself Grow are based in Castlemilk and offer a variety of activities throughout the local area and beyond. It offers a new approach to supporting people with learning difficulties and help them develop personally.

The project involves gardening and cooking and with more than 65 people involved has plans to expand with even more activities.

SEAL Community Health Project aims to help as many families and individuals in a number of different activities. From therapy classes to fruit barra stands, walking classes and programmes targeting health and fitness, they create an environment that is welcoming to all.

Over the past 20 years they have worked with thousands of people and a growing band of volunteers.

South West Community Cycles promotes safer cycling for the community, reducing transport costs, improving health and wellbeing and creating an active leisure activity. It was set up after concerns were raised about a lack of organised physical activity for youths.

Their aim is to educate people that cycling is an affordable and healthy means of transport.

Sport Award finalists

Enjoy a Ball is a multi-sports coaching company for children aged from three to nine years of age, with the aim of encouraging participation in sport within a fun and friendly environment.

Youngsters come along every week and learn a new ball sport, trying 10 in total. From all backgrounds and ethnicities, the sports bring them together as a team.

Team Award finalists

Castlemilk Youth Complex recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The charity is managed by young people who use state-of-the-art facilities to offer education and training to more than 450 of the city’s poorest and most disaffected young people.

Car-Brae Residents Association was set up to transform the lane behind the homes of 34 families in the G42 area which had been targeted by house breakers. A massive 40 tonnes of rubbish and mud was cleared and replaced with concrete slabs and lockable gates.

The Southern Necropolis Action Group carry out litter picking and clean ups of the cemetery grounds, gardens and headstones every Sunday and encourage local people to get involved.