COMMUNITY: It's one little word but it makes a world of difference to the people of Glasgow. The Evening Times today launches the Glasgow Community Champion Awards to crown the heroes of local communities.

COMMUNITY: It's one little word but it makes a world of difference to the people of Glasgow. The Evening Times today launches the Glasgow Community Champion Awards to crown the heroes of local communities.

We have teamed up with Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue and Glasgow Community Planning Partnership to throw the spotlight on individuals and teams making a difference in their area.

Lord Provost Bob Winter said: "We are all aware of people - friends, neighbours, and volunteers - who go that extra mile to help others in their community. The hard work and kindness of all these individuals young and old often goes unnoticed.

"They make our communities the great places they are. I would urge everybody to get involved and take part in the nomination process to recognise deserving community champions."

Over the next 10 months, our awards scheme will visit every area of the city to recognise those community activists committed to improving lives.

We will be looking for examples of outstanding work being done across the city, be it through improving housing or recreational facilities, cleaning up our environment, encouraging others into work or training, helping those less advantaged, or campaigning for improved services or safer communities.

We are searching for the best examples of individuals who give up their time, incredible charities or local organisations, young people who have shown inspirational bravery or fund-raising, plus neighbours who help those around them.

Those in the public service realm will also be recognised - teams and individuals whose vital work plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in Glasgow.

Evening Times editor Donald Martin said: "As Glasgow's paper, we are delighted to be so closely involved in the Glasgow Community Champion Awards.

"Communities are the lifeblood of this great city and it is right the often unseen efforts of so many individuals and groups should be recognised.

"There is a huge amount of good work going on by people who make a real difference to the communities in which they live or work. It is time their contribution was rewarded and we are convinced these awards will do just that."

The Glasgow Community Champion Awards have been broken down into 10 areas of the city, and six awards will be presented to winners at a high profile awards ceremony in each of the ten areas.

You can nominate anyone in your area by filling in the application form available to download now - or send us your details and we will post a form to you. You will also be able to pick up nomination forms from your local police or fire station and various council offices and libraries.

Strathclyde Police Chief Constable Steve House said: "I am delighted to support the Glasgow Community Champion Awards and look forward to working with partners to recognise the unsung heroes who do so much good work.

"Building a sense of community well-being is everyone's responsibility. I hope we will be able to work together and build on the feel-good factor' these awards will undoubtedly create."

The first area to feature in the awards is the East End, including Baillieston, Shettleston and Easterhouse. Send us your nominations of people and groups doing remarkable work in this area, and they could be recognised at the awards ceremony held at The Bridge in Easterhouse on November 17.

Each month after that, the awards will travel north, south, east and west to host a ceremony in a different part of Glasgow where we will name other local champions.

At each awards night, residents will be invited to come and watch the ceremony, find out more about their local services or plans for regeneration in their area, and make suggestions for improvements.

Councillor Jim Coleman, chairman of Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, said: "Throughout the city there are organisations and individuals that make life better for their neighbours, their neighbourhood and their city.

"These awards are a great opportunity to turn the spotlight on them and give everyone the chance to say a big thank you' to these champions."

All 60 local winners will then be invited to a gala grand final at the City Chambers next September.

Brian Sweeney, Chief Officer of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, said: "These awards provide an excellent opportunity for our community members to be rewarded, whether as individuals or as part of a group, and who are actively working to make a positive difference within our communities.

"These awards provide us with an opportunity to recognise and reward those who are making our communities safer places to live, work and visit."

THE AREAS

THE Glasgow Community Champion Awards will tour the city over the next 10 months and awards nights will cover the following areas:NOVEMBER 2008Ruchazie and Garthamlock; Easterhouse; Baillieston and Garrowhill; Mount Vernon and East Shettleston; Tollcross and West Shettleston; Springboig and Barlanark.DECEMBER 2008West including Yoker and Scotstoun; Knightswood; Temple and Anniesland; Blairdardie; Drumchapel.JANUARY 2009Pollokshields and Southside Central including Pollokshields West; Pollokshields East; Greater Gorbals; Shawlands and Strathbungo;Toryglen; Govanhill.FEBRUARY 2009Govan and Craigton including Ibrox and Kingston; Greater Govan; Belllahouston; Craigton and Mosspark; North Cardonald and Penilee; Crookston and South Cardonald; Corkerhill and Pollok.MARCH 2009Maryhill, Kelvin and Canal including Lambhill and Milton; North Maryhill and Summerston; Ruchill and Possilpark; Kelvindale and Kelvinside; Maryhill Road Corridor.APRIL 2009East Centre and Calton including Dennistoun; Haghill and Carntyne; Riddrie and Cranhill; Parkhead and Dalmarnock; Calton and Bridgeton.

MAY 2009

Central and West including City Centre and Merchant City; Yorkhill and Anderston; Hillhead and Woodlands; Broomhill and Partick West; Hyndland; Dowanhill and Partick East and Anniesland; Jordanhill and Whiteinch.JUNE 2009Langside and Linn including Langside and Battlefield; King's Park and Mount Florida; Cathcart and Simshill; Croftfoot; Castlemilk; Carmunnock.JULY 2009Greater Pollok and south including Pollok; Newlands and Cathcart; Pollokshaws and Mansewood; Priesthill and Househillwood; Arden and Carnwadric; South Nitshill and Darley.AUGUST 2009Glasgow North East including Springburn; Sighthill; Roystonhill and Germiston; Blackhill and Hogganfield; Balornock and Barmulloch; Robroyston and Millerston.

THE CATEGORIES

THE awards will be given out at 10 events across Glasgow.

We'll be giving out six prizes to residents or organisations doing remarkable work in local communities.

We are looking for nominations for Glasgow's community heroes in each of the following categories:

INDIVIDUAL AWARDWe want to hear inspirational stories of people who give up free time to make a significant contribution to other people's lives or to a community. This could be someone running a local sports club, campaigning for better services, tackling health issues or committed to cleaning up their area.TEAM AWARDThis recognises the life-enhancing work of community teams, organisations, charities or a group of volunteers. For example, any group involved in fund-raising, organising community events or making the community a better or safer place.PUBLIC SERVICES INDIVIDUAL AWARDThis will be presented to people working for a public service in a local community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. It could be a teacher, social worker, housing officer, doctor, nurse or emergency services officer.PUBLIC SERVICES TEAM AWARDThis is for a remarkable public service team that has made an outstanding contribution to help those they serve. This team working in any public sector will have gone that extra mile to provide help and support, making a difference to the lives of others.NEIGHBOUR AWARDEverybody needs good neighbours, but perhaps you know a local community star who goes out of their way to help others? We're looking to recognise those unsung heroes who make a big contribution with no expectation of reward or personal gain.YOUNG COMMUNITY CHAMPIONSIt's never too early to become a Community Champion! We're looking to find people aged 17 and younger who have shown inspirational behaviour, perhaps through incredible fund-raising projects or acts of bravery. Nominations for young groups and individuals are welcome, and can include voluntary youth groups, uniformed organisations, community groups and schools.

Visit our Community Champions Sponsors

Glasgow City Council
Visit Glasgow Community Planning Partnership Online
Strathclyde Police
Strathclyde Fire & Rescue