IN EVERY corner of Glasgow there are men, women and children making a difference to the lives of others.

These unsung heroes deserve their moment in the spotlight – which is where the Evening Times Community Champions Awards come in.

Our initiative, run in partnership once again with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland, is back for an exciting eighth year.

Evening Times executive editor Rob Bruce said: “There is always a buzz of excitement surrounding the launch of our Community Champions Awards.

“This is our opportunity to say thank you to the incredible army of remarkable people who make Glasgow great.

“For the next few months, we will be hearing their stories, from schoolchildren and senior citizens to volunteers and those in community service, and paying tribute to their selflessness and hard work.

"These inspiring individuals and outstanding organisations deserve to be celebrated – they are the lifeblood of our city, after all, and without them, Glasgow would be a poorer place.”

We want to hear your nominations for the following categories - Team Award, Individual Award, Public Services Award, Uniformed Services Award, Senior Award, Young Award, Health and Wellbeing Award and Sports Award.

You can nominate someone you know – perhaps the coach of a local sports club or a hardworking parent, a police officer who has saved lives, a nurse who goes above and beyond the day job or a pensioner who campaigns for better services.

You can even put yourself forward. A list of nominees will be published in the Evening Times and on our website in the run up to each event and the finalists, decided by a judging panel made up of representatives from the awards' partners, will take their place in our hall of fame.

The finalists will be chosen at three events taking place across the city over the coming months. The first heat will be on March 10, for the North East, on June 16 for the South and on October 6 for the North West.

The winners from each local event will go through to the glittering grand final, a civic reception in the City Chambers in December with Lord Provost, Councillor Sadie Docherty.

Last year’s event was a heartwarming affair, hosted by actress and writer Libby McArthur.

“The Evening Times Community Champions Awards are about celebrating all that is good about Glasgow and its people,” said Libby.

“These people go the extra mile for their city.”

Last year’s grand final winners were Easthall Residents Association (Team Award); Edward Kirkwood (Individual Award); Royston Youth Action (Public Service Award); Govan Community Policing Team (Uniformed Services Award); Alec Watt (Senior Award); Erin Ryan (Young Award); Active East (Sport Award); Common Wheel (Health and Wellbeing Award); and Beatroute (Lord Provost’s special award).

As Common Wheel project manager Emma Razi, summed it up: “People don't join the voluntary sector to make lots of money - they do it because they love it and because they can make a difference.

“The thanks they get come from nights like this.”

Help the Evening Times and its partners celebrate the passion and pride people have in the city of Glasgow by nominating your local heroes for the 2016 Community Champion Awards.

It all kicks off at the first event in the North East on March 10.

Nominations must reach us by February 10.

www.eveningtimesevents.com/communitychamps/

For more information call Cheryl Risk on 0141 302 7410.

All entry forms should be completed and returned to Glasgow Community Champion Awards, Evening Times, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3QB or emailed direct to cheryl.risk@heraldandtimes.co.uk