Winners come from all areas of the community

CONFUCIUS HUB: The first ‘Secondary Confucius Classroom’ opened at Stirling High School in 2015 and in 2017 the first‘Primary Confucius Classroom’opened at Braehead Primary School. They teach pupils from across Stirling about Chinese language and culture and the Confucius Institute for Scotland’s Schools. In 2017 pupils visited Stirling Castle to teach staff basic Mandarin to help them welcome Chinese visitors to the attraction. DAILY MILE: Concerned about the physical fitness of some of her pupils, the then headteacher of Braehead Primary School Elaine Wyllie came up with the idea of pupils leaving the classroom for 15 minutes every day to walk, jog or run a mile. The initiative has now gone global and Elaine is now head of the Daily Mile Foundation. ANDREW LAWSON: Described as the“go to”person for many staff at Forth Valley College, he has been there for over 20 years, 15 on the senior team. Praised for his humour and people skills, as well as his negotiating abilities, as depute principal he is said to have been supported people through the last five years of change within the college. VIDATEC: Based at Stirling University Innovation Park, the global digital company continues to grow nationally and internationally. They are major supporters of Stirling Council’s Digital Skills Forum and also work closely with the council on their‘digital transformation agenda’. MADE IN STIRLING: Run by local charity Creative Stirling, Made in Stirling provides an opportunity for artists and craftspeople from all over Stirling to sell their wares in Stirling’s city centre. RAPLOCH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP: The local community led charitable organisation, based at Raploch Community Campus, runs a number of different groups throughout the week including toddler groups, open access to wifi and computers, job club, baby massage, computing classes, craft groups, homework clubs and more, all fully supported and free of charge. In 2017 RCP helped 50 people to secure a job and tackled social isolation through a ‘Cook and Coach’group. BRAEHEAD COMMUNITY GARDEN: Set in two and a half acres to the east of the city centre, the garden hosts regular community events and has over 150 members, welcoming over 1000 visitors a year. Every aspect of the garden is run by a team volunteers - including beekeepers, teachers, administrators and gardeners - and give advice to other community groups around Scotland looking to start similar projects. DR MURRAY COOK: As well as being a qualified archaeologist working with Stirling Council, Dr Cook is an ambassador and advocate for history and heritage across Stirling’s communities and has raised funds for projects in communities such as Plean, Carron Valley, St Ninians and Dunblane as well as helping to create heritage trails in the likes of Bannockburn, Braehead, Borestone, Cambuskenneth and Cambusbarron. Locals’ understanding of local history was said to have been“enriched by Murray’s passion, skills and hard work”. JILL ARTHUR: The Bridge of Allan resident has raised over £40,000 for a host of charities over the last eight years and continues to raise money for charities locally by making and selling Scottish tablet, which she first began making over 50 years ago. Through this she has raised the profile of topics such as mental health throughout Dunblane, Bridge of Allan and Stirling - and her tablet has even been presented to HRH The Princess Royal on a visit to Strathcarron Hospice. ARTLINK CENTRAL: Artlink has been supporting people with disabilities, people experiencing mental health issues and people from excluded communities for over 30 years, using the arts to remove social, physical and attitude barriers to allow participation in society. PAMELA MACKIE: Pamela has produced over 40 shows in Dunblane, giving training in singing, acting and musical production to hundreds of children each year. She also leads a community choir and weekly drama classes. The mother-of-four’s work was said to be“greatly valued by many families and has linked the community across generations”. PAMELA SANDY: Pamela set up a successful adult netball club, providing both social and competitive training, and a junior section for 10-17 year olds. This year she also started developing the Central Netball Association, which will allow teams in the area to being playing competitively. She also coaches walking netball sessions. LINDA SHIELDS: As well as leading four walks each week as a volunteer dementia friendly walk leader, Linda volunteers her time each day visiting residents in care homes across Stirling or visiting people in their own home, and encourages those living with dementia to experience a more fulfilled life in the community, going“above and beyond”to make a difference to those that need it most. ROBERT WOOD: Robert dedicates his free time to keeping Fallin tidy and clean, out in all weathers picking up litter 365 days of the year, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. His hard work was said to be“valued by everyone in the village and his contribution to village life cannot be underestimated”. CHRISTIE ANNE SHANNON: A member of the National Ice Skating Association GB Talent Potential Squad, the 15-year-old is currently ranked fifth in Britain and placed fifth (first in Scotland) at the 2017 British Figure Skating Championships in Advanced Novice. Having started competing at the age of nine she has already achieved many podium places and trains seven times a week, getting up at 4.30am. WALLACE HIGH MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPIONS: The group of young people address the stigma surrounding mental ill health, supporting their peers as well as parents and carers. They helped organise a Mental Health Week at their school and have a real passion for raising awareness and supporting each other.