Today we launch our latest search for unsung heroes in the third stage of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards 2012.

Do you know a great Gorbalite only too happy to help their neighbours? A Shawlands stalwart driving change in the environment? A pupil from Pollokshields or Pollokshaws fundraising hundreds of pounds for charity?

Perhaps it's a Battlefield bobby hammering crime statistics, a top teacher from Toryglen, or a Castlemilk campaigner who refuses to give up without a fight?

We want you to tell us about the people living and working in the area stretching from the River Clyde to Carmunnock who deserve a place in our hall of fame for good citizenship.

This is the fourth year of the awards campaign. To date we've hosted 27 events in community venues across the city to honour those people who give up their time to help others.

And we've celebrated their collective efforts at three gala grand finals at the City Chambers at which citywide winners were named.

The success of the campaign, which was launched in October 2008 and has received unprecedented cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament, relies on our readers nominating the people whose efforts often go unnoticed.

So don't delay, give us a phone or email us for an entry form – or you can nominate online via our website, www.eveningtimes.co.uk

The deadline for entries in the South East area is Wednesday, June 6.

A judging panel will whittle down the entries to a shortlist of groups and individuals.

And everyone is welcome to attend a red-hot ceremony at Polmadie Community Fire Station, which follows two scorching ceremonies staged at Maryhill and Springburn fire stations.

The South-East event takes place on Tuesday, June 26 and will be attended by representatives of the awards partners, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership and the GHA.

There's no limit on the number of nominations you can make for 2012 – and we welcome entries from nominees and winners from any of the previous three seasons.

The South-East brings together Langside & Linn and Pollokshields & Southside Central into one large area, home to 102,000 residents.

One of the most popular figures at last year's ceremony at St Francis Centre in the Gorbals was Maureen Cope MBE, a Castlemilk housing activist who refuses to let a battle with cancer stand in her way of improving living standards.

The chairwoman of Ardenglen Housing Association, who had a revamped community hall named in her honour, went on to claim the citywide title of Senior winner at the City Chambers from Lord Provost Bob Winter and Evening Times editor Tony Carlin.

Fiona McGovern, regeneration officer at Ardenglen Housing Association, said: "A lot of people see Maureen as one of the driving forces that have gave them the houses that they're living in.

"The community remember Castlemilk the way it was. When we're talking to young people aged 14, 15, they don't remember it."

Fiona made two trips to the stage at Castlemilk Community Centre in 2010, picking up the Public Service Individual Award for her work in encouraging the community to work together, and was a member of Public Service Team award-winners, Tormusk Neighbourhood Reassurance Forum.

She said the awards have helped her establish stronger relationships with the community.

She has since set up a youth committee and arranged for football and dance activities two nights a week, which attracts participants from Rutherglen and Croftfoot.

Fiona added: "It's nice to be recognised that you're doing a good job. Sometimes in our sector it can be quite thankless.

"Other people recognising that you're doing a good job makes you feel better and spurs you on."

Shawlands Academy Dance Group, meanwhile, leapt onto the stage of St Francis Centre in 2010 to claim their Young Award – and gave an energetic performance to draw the ceremony to a close.

Multi-award-winning sports group Active Life Club, a Govanhill group founded by Raza Sadiq in 1999 to mix young people from different cultures, scooped the Team award at the Destiny Church in Shawlands in 2009.

Former Lord Provost Pat Lally was among the members of Team winners Castlemilk Pensioners Action Centre at Langside Hall in 2009, which proved a particularly moving ceremony thanks to the posthumous award for former policeman and King's Park community campaigner Charlie Boyce.

The awards campaign has stepped up a gear for 2012 ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2014 with a new category honouring a Sports Community Champion to reward the teams, clubs and coaches who promote grassroots sporting activities.

As with last year, the awards will again feature a Health and Wellbeing Award to recognise efforts being made to improve the city's poor health on the back of the Evening Times' Glas-goals campaign.

A new Uniformed Services Community Champion Award pays tribute to teams and individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty to keep our communities safe and well.

If you know a group or individual who deserves to be among these winners, then tell us about them today.

maureen.ellis@ eveningtimes.co.uk

HOW TO ENTER

Nomination forms are available from Victoria Scott at 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, G2 3QB Call 0141 302 7319 or email victoria.scott@heraldandtimes.co.uk

To nominate online go to: www.eveningtimes.co.uk/go/community-champions

Community Champion Team Award

A local team, charity or voluntary organisation who makes a difference to their community by improving amenities or raising the quality of life for others.

Community Champion Individual Award

Someone who, by giving up their free time, has made a significant contribution perhaps through fundraising, running a local club or campaigning for better services or amenities.

Public Services Community Champion Award

Recognising a public service team or individual who goes that extra mile to provide help and support to the people that they serve.

Uniform Services Community Champion Award

A new category to recognise an extraordinary team or individual who people turn to in times of crisis or who is responsible for keeping the community safe.

Senior Community Champion Award

A local hero or team aged 60 and over who, after many years of hard work, continues to devote much of their time to helping others.

Young Community Champion Award

For groups of young people or individuals of 17 or under who made a difference to their community or inspired others.

Health and Wellbeing Award

Recognising groups, projects or individuals who promote healthy lifestyles perhaps through delivering advice, support or regular activities.

Sports Community Champion Award

To honour groups, clubs and individuals who encourage participation in sport and improve the fitness of Glasgow's citizens.

n Shawlands Dance Academy won the Young Award in 2010, while Maureen Cope, inset below left, collected the Senior Award last year, and Charlie Boyce, below, was honoured with a posthumous award in 2009 for his community campaigning work