COMMUNITY Champions do not wear gold medals or step on a podium, nor do they expect fanfare or acclaim.

But they are the glue that binds our great city together.

Put simply, they are the people who let Glasgow flourish.

Today, the Evening Times is proud to launch the fifth season of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards.

We want you to tell us about the remarkable groups and individuals without whom Glasgow would be a poorer place.

Since the event began, the Evening Times – together with our partners Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and, since 2011, Glasgow Housing Association – has turned the spotlight on unsung heroes.

We have rewarded more than 200 community champions from across the city and received thousands of incredible nominations.

Now we want to hear about the outstanding work that is being carried out on your doorstep in 2013 by friends, relatives, neighbours or work colleagues.

Lord Provost Sadie Docherty said: "The Community Champions have been a highlight of my time as Lord Provost.

"The extraordinary work carried out by ordinary people across the city is amazing, and it has been a privilege to get the opportunity to meet these people and those they help.

"I am thrilled to be part of year five."

You could nominate a coach who runs a local sports club, a mother who organises after-school activities, pupils waging war on litter, a grandparent tackling housing issues or inequalities, a uniformed officer whose courageous behaviour has saved lives, or a public servant who, time and again, goes above and beyond the call of duty.

By telling us about an ordinary person doing extraordinary things, you are giving them their moment to shine. 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.

Tony Carlin, editor of the Evening Times, said: "Having attended and hosted dozens of Glasgow Community Champion Awards since they were launched in September 2008, I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the drive, dedication and initiative of those people who simply want to make Glasgow a better place in which to live and work.

"I am proud to have been able to thank a fraction of the thousands of nominees for their tireless efforts during four remarkable seasons of the awards.

"I call upon readers, many of whom have already taken the campaign to their hearts, to help us build on that success by nominating the local heroes who most deserve our recognition in 2013."

As with last year, the awards have been split into eight categories: Team, Individual, Senior, Young, Health and Wellbeing, Sport, Uniformed Services and Public Service.

Eight trophies will be handed out at five ceremonies to be held at venues across the city over the course of the year.

The first port of call will be the East of Glasgow – and we begin our search for nominations of deserving groups and people from today.

The search area covers Ruchazie, Garthamlock, Easterhouse, Baillieston, Garrowhill, Mount Vernon, Shettleston, Tollcross, Springboig, Barlanark, Dennistoun, Haghill, Carntyne, Riddrie, Cranhill, Parkhead, Dalmarnock, Calton and Bridgeton.

Nominations of the Eastenders making a difference must reach us by February 4.

An award ceremony will take place in the East End on February 21.

Previous ceremonies have been held at the Platform arts centre at the Bridge complex in Easterhouse, the new Haghill campus of John Wheatley College, St Andrew's In The Square, Bridgeton Community Learning Campus, and the Winter Gardens of the People's Palace, Glasgow Green.

Winners from the East have included The Gladiator Programme, a city-wide activity scheme; centenarian volunteer Margaret Miller, of Springboig; the volunteers of the Lodging House Mission homeless drop-in centre; Parkhead activity project Playbusters; community garden trailblazer Barrie Linning; retired minister Reverend Adah Younger; Bridgeton community learning co-ordinator Rosemary Robertson; and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue's outreach safety campaign Project Fire Reach.

After the East area, we will visit the North, South East, West & Central, and South West areas before staging a gala grand final at the City Chambers in December.

The awards campaign has gone from strength to strength since being launched in autumn 2008 as a way to recognise local heroes at 10 ceremonies across the city.

Such was the demand for more heroes to be honoured, we repeated the format in 2010.

The essence of the campaign was then distilled into five events – grouping together two areas within each – in 2011.

And in 2012, we introduced a Sport category honouring those who cultivate grassroots sports to reflect the forthcoming Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

To date, we have hosted 30 events around Glasgow and honoured city-wide winners at four grand finals.

Gordon Sloan, chairman of Glasgow Housing Association, said: "GHA is delighted to support the Community Champions Awards for the third year in a row.

"The awards are a great chance to pay tribute to the fantastic work done by people in communities all over the city, from young people to pensioners and everyone in between."

The nominees and finalists might hail from all walks of life, yet they share a common goal of improving life in Glasgow.

Brian Sweeney, chief officer of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, said: "We have always been a strongly- focused community service and this is what these awards celebrate.

"We are often hailed as heroes but, throughout the last five years, we ourselves have been humbled by the range of everyday heroes whom we have encountered."

HOW TO NOMINATE -

Contact Lyndsay Wilson on 0141 302 7407 or send an e-mail to: communitychamps@eveningtimes.co.uk

The awards are open to everyone. All entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form.

Previous nominees and winners are eligible to enter.

TEAM AWARD

A local team or group of volunteers who make a difference to their community by improving amenities or raising the quality of life for local residents.

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

Someone who gives up their free time to make a significant contribution to other people's lives – they may run a local club, campaign for better services for their area or fundraise for charity.

PUBLIC SERVICES AWARD

This award will reward a public service team or individual who has gone that extra mile and continually demonstrates a 'can do' attitude.

UNIFORM SERVICES AWARD

An extraordinary team or individual from the uniformed services. It could be a person you turn to in times of need, or a team responsible for keeping your community safe.

SENIOR AWARD

Individuals or teams aged 60 and over who, after many years of hard work, continue to devote much of their time to helping others.

YOUNG AWARD

For individuals or teams aged 17 and under. Nominees may have made a difference to their community or have inspired others through their achievements.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD

This award recognises groups, projects or individuals which promote the improvement of health and wellbeing within their communities.

SPORTS AWARD

This category recognises those working at grassroots level to encourage participation in sport and fitness ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.