Today we can reveal the 17 finalists who are in contention for the final stage of our second year-long campaign

From woodturning projects in Crookston, through to dedicated Newlands citizens and to Pollok initiatives helping the unemployed realise their potential, the finalists are a testament to the strength of community spirit across the Greater Pollok and Newlands area.

Everyone is welcome to attend tonight’s ceremony at Pollokshaws Burgh Hall to honour the stars of the South West.

You can chat to representatives of the awards partners over refreshments and acknowledge the contribution of your heroes drawn from Pollok, Newlands, Cathcart, Pollokshaws, Mansewood, Priesthill, Househillwood, Arden, Carnwadric, South Nitshill and Darnley.

Evening Times’ editor Tony Carlin said: “We know the people we are celebrating tonight are the very lifeblood of our city.”

More than 60 entries for the South West area were whittled down to a shortlist by a panel of judges made up of the awards partners.

It consisted of Councillor Alex Glass; Peter Bole, of Glasgow Community Planning Partnership; group commander Paul Stewart, of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue; chief inspector Pat Tahaney; of Strathclyde Police; and Helen Smith, Evening Times’ communities editor.

All winners from across the city will be invited to the gala finale at the City Chambers in October.

Tonight’s categories and those shortlisted are:

TEAM AWARD

ARDEN CHILLOUT CENTRE, which was revamped through a £50,000 National Lottery grant, provides a variety of activities for people aged 5-15, including informal education, games, music, sport, IT and fitness.

A wood-turning idea founded in a garage in Crookston is giving a new lease of life to isolated people.

THE BULLWOOD PROJECT was founded by Joe Kilmartin, who suffers from ME, it encourages those who are sick or long-term unemployed to re-engage with the community through recycling trees destined for landfill.

RAINBOW CARE CENTRE, set up in 1990 by local minister Reverend Graeme Bell, is all about putting colour into the lives of members who use its transport services, tailored social activities and home-cooked food five days a week.

INDIVIDUAL AWARD

Without the efforts of Merrylee activist BILL BAIRD, schoolchildren would be without the football training, leagues and tournaments he organises.

The 66-year-old is also involved in the Merrylee Local Housing Organisation, Cathcart & District Community Council and the steering group of The Newlands Project.

GORDON MILLAR, 56, has served his community for more than 10 years by taking on a series of roles. He was chairman of the Pollok Crime Prevention Panel for eight years, the Community Safety Forum, played an active role in the Streetwatch Glasgow CCTV system and is on the board of the Legal Services Agency.

Home carer LINDA CAMPBELL has always gone above and beyond her duties with Cordia in her 25 years in the job.

The 55-year-old, from Pollok, cares full-time for her father, who has Alzheimer’s, in addition to caring for elderly relatives and looking after four grandchildren.

PUBLIC SERVICE INDIVIDUAL AWARD

Last year, Constable DEREK McDOWELL was among the dozens of uniformed officers mingling with readers at the event at Pollok Community Centre. Yet the popular community policeman died suddenly from a heart condition in March, aged 36.

He had been involved in many local initiatives to reduce crime in the Priesthill and Nitshill areas that he patrolled.

Community learning worker MARY ROCKS works with Glasgow Life and for the last 12 years has been involved with the community around Pollokshaws to deliver learning opportunities.

Library supervisor CHRISTINE STEWART has been credited with introducing programmes to boost learning and lending in Pollok Library.

PUBLIC SERVICE TEAM AWARD

The FAMILY EARLY INTERVENTION UNIT is a initiative delivered by Strathclyde Police, ASSIST, social work services and education departments to tackle violent crime and reduce the number of victims of domestic abuse.

The team carries out safety assessments, installs home alarm systems, issues personal alarms and works to rehouse vulnerable people where necessary.

THE OLDER PEOPLE AND PHYSICAL DISABILITY TEAM within Greater Pollok Social Work works to find solutions for those most in need. The team strives to overcome difficulties by working with families to deliver what is best.

THE SOUTH WEST BRIDGING SERVICE provides a path to education, training or employment for those with significant health and care needs.

The Pollok-based team works with more than 400 people a year.

SENIOR AWARD

BRIAN BEACOM earned an MBE for his efforts after clocking up some 35 years of community action.

The 66-year-old, from Nitshill, is chairman of the Levern District Community Council, Priesthill Barratt Community Development Trust, Scottish Health Council, North Glasgow Healthy Living Community and is a director of Hillwood Community Development Trust.

Retired teacher JOSEPHINE DOCHERTY is chairwoman of Newlands and Auldhouse Community Council, a secretary of the board of Pollokshaws Burgh Hall and organises the Newlands Community Gala. She has restarted community work after treatment for cancer.

As someone who has been active in Pollokshaws for almost 30 years, HARRY McCOLL is the man residents can turn to when they want to raise an issue.

The grandfather is chairman of Pollokshaws and Eastwood Community Council and a founding member of Pollokshaws Heritage Group.

He was instrumental in the fight to reopen Pollokshaws Burgh Hall and is now campaigning to have names of the soldiers killed in battle reinstated on a local war memorial.

YOUNG AWARD

REECE BARRIE, 11, is battling a rare spinal condition that makes him one in a million. The South Nitshill youngster copes every day with a powerful cocktail of painkillers for his scoliosis (a curvature of his spine), spondilitis (arthritis of the back) and unusual spinal growth.

Family and friends have organised a variety of fundraising events in the hope that Reece, who has just started S1 at St Ninian’s High, Giffnock, can be sent to a leading children’s hospital in Boston, America.

The motivated youngsters of GREATER POLLOK YOUNG CARERS provide peer support to those who care for family members with an illness or disability.

Some 38 members worked with The Village Storytelling Centre to write, design and illustrate a book based on their experiences entitled What I Do -- Young Carers Voices.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF NOMINEES AT:

arden.eveningtimes.co.uk

carnwadric.eveningtimes.co.uk

cathcart.eveningtimes.co.uk

darnley.eveningtimes.co.uk

merrylee.eveningtimes.co.uk

newlands.eveningtimes.co.uk

nitshill.eveningtimes.co.uk

pollok.eveningtimes.co.uk

pollokshaws.eveningtimes.co.uk

priesthill.eveningtimes.co.uk