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

There are just a few days left to nominate them for a 2017 Glasgow Community Champions Award.

The Evening Times awards, run in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland, celebrate all the good work done by unsung heroes across the city.

Previous north west winners DRC Generations Peer Mentor Group were over the moon to triumph in last year’s heat.

They picked up the Young Award for their inspirational work planning and delivering sessions on a whole range of hardhitting topics, including substance misuse and bullying to primary and secondary pupils.

Development officer Michelle Clarke explains: “Winning a Glasgow Community Champions Award was an amazing honour for us – we didn’t expect it at all, given all the people we were up against.

“It was a great experience for the young people who came along on the night – they are all amazing. The messages they take to these young people don’t stop at the schoolgates, they reach the whole community.”

She adds: “Winning the award was great recognition for them, and the work they do.”

The DRC Peer Mentor and Education programme celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and since its early days as part of DRC Generations in Scotstoun it has had a huge impact on the local community.

“As well as giving young people the skills and information they need, the project has become a real community hub bringing people together,” adds Michelle.

“And the benefits to the peer mentors themselves are great. They build up their confidence and give them skills to add to their CVs, for example, if they are going on to college or looking for a job.

“It allows them to be part of something, and shows people they are proud of their community and believe in that community.”

Teenagers have the chance to work with young people who have learning disabilities, and also receive training on the issues surrounding drug and alcohol misuse. They are in demand for primary school health weeks, where they deliver talks to younger children, and often give presentations and run workshops for older pupils.

“The young people are well received by their peers because they understand what it’s like – they are all the same age, after all – and I think they all respond to that,” adds Michelle.

“The peer mentor group have a really important role too in our own organisation – for example, they have become part of our planning programme for our annual showcase.”

Michelle would urge any groups considering entering the 2017 Glasgow Community Champions Awards to do so.

“It was such a lovely event to be part of, getting the chance to meet other groups and seeing all the good work going on around the city,” she says.

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.

Last year’s winners also included 3D Drumchapel Volunteers, who have been supporting children and families in the area for more than 20 years, who won the Best Team category; and Individual Award champion Jane Hook who runs Buddies Clubs and Services, a support group and after-school care club for children with complex conditions and disabilities.

PC John Crawford won the Uniformed Services Award for his incredible bravery in diving into the freezing waters of Kelvin Loch to try to save a drowning man and the Public Service Award went to Drumchapel High School Wider Achievement Programme, which helps pupils engage with the local community, learning skills and building confidence at the same time The Health and Wellbeing Award went to bike recycling project Glasgow Bike Station and North Kelvin Sports Development Group was the worthy winner of the Sports Award.

The Senior Award went to Robert Alston, a ‘one-man community anchor’ who combined his roles on Woodside Community Council, Hillhead Area Partnership and local music group with a new role as volunteer lock keeper with Scottish Canals.

Evening Times editor Graham Shields said: “We know there are many more inspiring groups and individuals out there, working hard to make their communities in the north west of Glasgow better for everyone.

“I’m delighted the Evening Times and our partners, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland – can pay tribute to them and I look forward to hearing their stories as the nominations come in.”

The closing date for entries is Thursday and the prize presentation event will take place on October 3. Winners will join previous heat champions from the south and the north east at a grand final in the City Chambers in November.

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.