THE people who give the East End its promise made it a roaring start to our fifth year of recognising the city's unsung heroes.

The first winners of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards of 2013 all share a goal of making the area a happier, healthier place to live.

From pupils waging war on litter and uniformed officers driving down crime to a nonagenarian who's refusing to let the stand in his way of helping others, the stories inspired everyone gathered at Bridgeton Community Learning Campus on a chilly evening.

The 24 finalists, joined by their family and friends, descended last night on the £1.7million learning facility in Dale Street.

Sheena Glass, chief executive of Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association, was there to support two Senior category finalists who are among the organisation's 2000-strong army of senior volunteers.

Runner-up Frances McLaughlin, 77, from Shettleston, and 97-year-old winner John Connelly, from Sandyhills, have clocked up decades of organising events for pensioners.

Mrs Glass, 74, from Old Kilpatrick, said: "I'm so happy that they are both finalists. You realise the wisdom they have – they'll organise a bus run for 50 people and not think anything about it."

The Senior category's third finalist, May Docherty, played down the role she has in running the Vale Club in Parkhead.

The 80-year-old, from Bellgrove, said: "There's a lot of people who do a lot more than me. I just run a club and everyone likes coming, that's all."

After the guests had chatted to representatives of the awards partners over refreshments, Evening Times editor Tony Carlin invited every-one to take their seats to induct another eight winners into the city's community hall of fame.

The night proved emotional for Individual winner Natalie Scrymgeour and Sport Award winner and Eastbank Netball Club coach Glenda Strang, who wiped away tears as they won.

The evening's loudest cheers were generated by the 10 members of Mrs Strang's netball team, who meet at Eastbank Academy, Shettleston, and who leapt to their feet as she was crowned winner.

With the Commonwealth Games 500 days away, it was fitting the Sport category was hotly-contested a stone's throw from the epi-centre of Glasgow 2014.

The City of Glasgow Seals, a swimming club for people with disabilities, earned a runner-up place in the Sport category.

One of its founders, Anne Watson, 60, from Garthamlock, whose daughter Julie Anne competes, said: "I'm really delighted. I just love doing this. Even when Julie Anne doesn't go or she's ill, I'll still be there."

Proud mum Audrey Campbell, from Carmyle, admitted it was emotional watching her 14-year-old son, Jamie, an S3 pupil at Bannerman High, collect the runner-up certificate in the Young Award.

She said: "He'll take his wee brother Robbie out with him litter picking and they'll spread the grit when it's icy or they'll check on the old people to make sure they're OK."

GLASGOW Housing Association chairman Gordon Sloan, who lives in Carntyne, paid tribute to Public Service Award winner Jamie Tierney, an environmental operative in Cranhill flats.

He said: "The concierges have got good records and I think it's because they go above and beyond their job description.

"He's another example of that."

Individual Award finalist Connie O'Hara can boast a hat-trick of nominations in the Community Champion Awards for her work in establishing recreational activities for young people in Riddrie.

The 54-year-old, who runs the Wacky Wednesday club, said: "It's nice to be recognised for the work that you do.

"We've been running the club since 2007 – at that time there was nothing in the area for local children."

The volunteering bug has bitten dozens of people involved in Tollcross Walking Group, a finalist in the Health and Wellbeing Award.

Walk leader Gail Hammon, 57, from Easterhouse, said: "We started off as seven leaders, and there's now about 40. That's in a year-and-a-half!

"We've won just by getting to the final."

The Team runner-up certificate earned by family respite care charity Geeza Break in Parkhead will now be used by its staff to increase its reach.

Finance manager Linda Mayes said: "It will look really good on future funding bids, just the fact we've been shortlisted."

Last night's event, the first of five that the Evening Times will host across Glasgow, was the second of its kind that Inspector John Gormlie has attended.

A guest in 2011, last night he took his place on stage as a finalist in the Uniform Services category for reducing crime in Baillieston and Easterhouse.

Inspector Gormlie, 45, said: "It's more for my team than it is for myself, but I'm absolutely delighted."

The evening was brought to a close with a performance from up-and-coming Easterhouse singer-songwriter Lee-anne Douglas, 22.

Ms Douglas, a part-time music tutor with Connect Community Trust in Wellhouse, said: "This is one of the most exciting things to be a part of because I started out in my community as a 13-year-old volunteer and worked my way up.

"The crowd was amazing."

All winners will be invited to attend the Grand Final in December when the overall winners will be crowned.