DO YOU know a local hero from the north west of Glasgow?

We want to hear about them, as we launch our third heat of the 2017 Glasgow Community Champions Awards.

After the success of our first two events, in the north east and south of the city, we expect this round to be just as exciting.

All of the heat winners will go forward to the glittering grand final in the City Chambers in November.

Previous north west winners Glasgow Bike Station, who triumphed in the Health and Wellbeing category, are urging groups around the city to get involved.

“Since we started up in 2013 we have been lucky enough to attend several awards ceremonies, but this one is extra-special,” explains manager Colin Freeman.

“What’s great about the Glasgow Community Champions Awards is that we can all go along, staff and volunteers, and that’s a fantastic way to say thank you to all the people who work so hard for us.

“It’s a really lovely event too, and the Grand Final in the City Chambers is amazing.”

Glasgow Bike Station was set up in 2013 and has grown into one of the city’s most successful social enterprises and charities.

Since its small beginnings, it has rescued 30,000 bikes from landfill, and in the last year alone welcomed 345 people along to social rides, helped 1915 pre-schoolchildren learn to ride a bike before they start school and provided confidence-building bike skills to more than 230 people.

Colin explains: “Cycling is huge in Glasgow now – even in a few short years, it has grown in popularity amongst all age groups.

“We’re really proud of the impact we have had on helping people feel more confident about cycling, and being able to help people get hold of affordable bikes.”

There are around 30 volunteers at the charity, as Colin explains.

“They do many tasks for us, from, admin and customer service roles to driving around collecting bikes for us and preparing bikes in the warehouse, and some also lead our social rides.

“Winning the Glasgow Community Champions Award last year was a great boost for them.

“We couldn’t do it without them.”

The team at Glasgow Bike Station joined up with Police Scotland – one of our campaign partners alongside Scottish Fire and Rescue, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership and Glasgow Housing Association – recently for a brilliant initiative.

Stolen bikes picked up by Police Scotland are often not reclaimed by their owners, for a whole host of reasons, and regularly end up auctioned off or destroyed.

Now they are making their way to Glagsow Bike Station, thanks to an innovative partnership between the charity and the Glasgow North West police team.

Inspector Neil MacDougall, community inspector for Glasgow North West, explains: “Ideally, of course, we want to return bikes to their owners but often that is not possible.

“By donating them to Glasgow Bike Station, they are going to people who need them and who will make use of them.

“We’re really delighted to be able to help a community group that’s having a real impact in this area.”

Colin agrees: “It’s a real shame so many bikes don’t make it back to their owners, but thanks to this partnership with Police Scotland, they will now end up with people who need affordable bikes and that’s a really great result.”

Since we launched the Evening Times Community Champions Awards 10 years ago, we have rewarded more than 350 groups and individuals from across the city.

Let us know if someone you know has made a difference by caring for others, campaigning for better services, or simply making life better for all around them.

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.

This heat covers the north west of the city, from Yoker and Yorkhill to Lambhill and Springburn and everywhere in between.

The closing date for entries is August 17 and the prize presentation event will take place on October 3.

You can enter via the website http://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/glasgowcommchamps/ or email heather.steven@newsquest.co.uk

For more information call 0141 302 6018.