Tell us about the people
WE have hailed the unsung heroes of the south and north-east – now it is time for the northwest of the city to shine.
The third and final heat of the Evening Times Community Champions Awards will take place on October 6 – so if you are proud of a local group or inspirational person in your neighbourhood, now is the time to tell us all about them.
It could be your teacher, your next-door neighbour, a member of your family or a local police officer.
Whoever it is you nominate they will have made a difference to your life or the lives of others in your area.
In partnership with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland, we are looking for entries across eight categories before the closing date of August 31.
You can nominate someone you know, or yourself, in any of the following categories – Team Award, Individual Award, Public Services Award, Uniformed Services Award, Senior Award, Young Award, Health and Wellbeing Award and Sports Award.
Last year’s winners from the area included Team Award champions WAMIOS (Walk A Mile In Our Shoes), a support network for parents which meets every week to share experiences and tips, and Chris Woods, a veteran soldier who volunteers with North Glasgow Community Food Initiative, who triumphed in the Individual Award.
The Public Services Award winner was Oakgrove Primary head teacher Nikki Scott, the principal teacher of Oakgrove primary school, who boosted pupils’ fitness and attainment levels, while the Uniformed Services category was won by nurse Elaine Hamilton, who goes the extra mile in her role at the Centre for Integrative Care i n Gartnavel Hospital.
Common Wheel, a bike project for people with a variety of mental health problems including depression and dementia, was given the Health and Wellbeing award.
The gymnastics club, which was started five years ago and has helped to encourage more than 150 people get involved in the sport, won the Health and Wellbeing Award
The Sport Award was won by Sapphire Gymnastics Club, which has already helped more than 150 people from some of Glasgow’s most disadvantaged areas to get involved in the sport, while Alec Watt, a former social worker who set up the Eagle Sports Club to help people become more active, was the winner of the Senior Award.
Erin Ryan, an inspirational dance tutor and community worker with YDance, was a worthy winner of the Young Award.
A list of nominees will be published in the Evening Times and on our website in the run-up to the event on October 6, and the finalists, decided by a judging panel from the awards’ partners, will take their place in our hall of fame.
North west winners will join their counterparts from our previous heats at the grand final, a civic reception hosted by Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, in the City Chambers in December.
Evening Times Editor Graham Shields said: “We have had a fantastic response to our Community Champions events this year. Our first two heats have been huge successes and our north west heat is shaping up to be just as popular.”
To nominate somebody for an award, or to find out more, log on to www.eveningtimesevents.com/ community champs or call Cheryl Risk on 0141 302 7410.