AN inspirational bunch of green-fingered pupils and a kind-hearted nurse going above and beyond her day job are just some of the South heat winners in this year’s Glasgow Community Champion Awards.

The Evening Times campaign, in association with Glasgow Fort and supported by our other partners – Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow Housing Association and the Trades House of Glasgow – celebrates everything that is great about the city and its people.

This year, for the first time in the long-running event’s history, our readers have determined who triumphed in each category in the north-west, north-east and south of the city. 

This week we’ve revealed the winners in the north-west and north-east – today, it’s the turn of the south to shine.

Our newest award, Teacher of the Year, is a city-wide category and finalists were announced on Wednesday. The winners of all regions will go through to the Grand Final on December 6.

TEAM AWARD: 

Youth Team – Castlemilk Youth Complex

CASTLEMILK Youth Complex is an impressive group of young people delivering programmes on everything from substance abuse to relationships. Set up 25 years ago in response to high levels of crime and drug use in the area, it has revolutionised youth work in the area, giving hundreds of young people a range of opportunities and restoring a great sense of community spirit.

INDIVIDUAL AWARD: 

Erin Boyle – The Kano Foundation

ERIN Boyle is one of the hard-working volunteers at The Kano Foundation, which takes disadvantaged young people to football games. Erin throws herself into every task with enthusiasm, on top of her university studies and part-time work, helping out with admin, youth engagement and fundraising. She is also a whizz on social media, and her dedication to bringing joy to the lives of others means she is a respected positive role model in her community.

UNIFORMED SERVICES AWARD:

Sarah Everett – Men’s Shed Govan 

SARAH Everett is a resourceful and dedicated nurse. Realising that many of her male patients were suffering from isolation, she was determined to support them, and secured funding to set up a Men’s Shed in her local community of Govan. Here, men get together for a range of activities, including woodworking, art, gardening and cooking and, crucially, make new friends and find new ways to overcome challenges they face in their own lives. 

PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD: 

Helen Wilson – Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Glasgow

HELEN Wilson has been the charity can co-ordinator for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice for the past 30 years, collecting an estimated £2million for the charity. Working tirelessly to persuade local shopkeepers, pub owners and businesses to support the hospice with a collecting can, she has charmed more than 1000 to take part around the city.

SENIOR AWARD (For individuals or teams aged 60 and over):

Munir Choudry – Pollokshields Development Agency

IT takes a certain kind of person to be able to campaign for his local community while volunteering in a range of roles and relentlessly networking with dignitaries, businesses, community leaders and organisations with the power to effect change to benefit that community. Munir Choudry of Pollokshields Development Agency has been doing all of this and more for his local area for many years, with a caring and warm nature.

YOUNG AWARD (For individuals or teams aged 17 and under):

Govan High Gardening Team – Govan High School 

THE Govan High Gardening Team worked in partnership with Trades House Glasgow recently to transform an unloved courtyard at the school into a stunning Japanese garden. 

Despite facing challenges in their own lives, this fantastic group designed and built the project with the aim of creating a safe space for young people to “de-stress”. The pupils increased their own confidence and skills and the wider school community gained a much-needed hub to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of all students.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING AWARD: 

On the Ball

FOOTBALL fans Orlaith Duffy, Erin Slaven and Mikaela McKinley set out to make a small change at their local club, by asking bosses to provide free sanitary products in the grounds to help female supporters. The response was incredible and thanks to their charity, On The Ball, 101 clubs have now signed up to the scheme. Working without funding, in their own time, the trio continue to fight period poverty, challenging social injustice and empowering female football fans not just in Glasgow, but around the world. 

SPORTS AWARD:

John Gibson – John Gibson Goalkeeping Academy 

THE John Gibson Goalkeeping Academy provides training for children of all ages and abilities. John works hard to ensure all children feel welcome and supported, and his successful young goalkeepers have gone on to play in teams all over the city. Always putting the children’s best interests first, he works with parents and fellow coaches to ensure Glasgow is leading the way when it comes to the next generation of goalkeepers.

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