FROM schoolchildren and sports coaches to pensioners and gardeners, the city’s most inspirational people and projects have triumphed in our Glasgow Community Champion Awards heats.

Our annual celebration, supported by Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Housing Association and Trades House of Glasgow, showcases everything that is great about the city and its people.

The public vote, which decides the north east, north west and south winners, attracted thousands of votes.

Glasgow Times Editor Callum Baird said: “We were delighted by the response to our public vote this year, and overwhelmed by the standard of entries – especially after such a challenging year for our communities. The heat winners are all superb. This week we had the fantastic news that our live grand final – cancelled last year because of Covid – will go ahead in the grand surroundings of the City Chambers on December 1.”

Glasgow Times: Free Wheel North, who won two awards in the nort east heat this year.

He added: “We are looking forward to seeing everyone there for a much-needed celebration.”

Heat winners now face a judging panel, made up of representatives of the partners and Glasgow Times staff, who will decide the overall winners.

Today, we reveal the groups and individuals who won the heats in each area, and announce the finalists for the citywide categories. The top three finalists in the citywide categories, as decided by the public vote, will also go through to the grand final.

The NORTH EAST winners are:

TEAM - Team PEEK (Possibilities for Each and Every Kid) were relentless in their support of communities in the north east and beyond during the pandemic, providing food, activity and wellbeing packs and online play, art and cooking sessions to families struggling to cope.

INDIVIDUAL - Inspirational nine-year-old Heather Bryson, from Robroyston, has been tirelessly fundraising and supporting people with dementia through the pandemic.

PUBLIC SERVICE - Free Wheel North provides children and adults of all ages and abilities with the chance to take up cycling in a safe and friendly environment.

Glasgow Times: Peekachew food truck. Pic: Jamie Simpson

HEALTH AND WELLBEING - During the pandemic, East End Empowering Stars delivered food and wellbeing packs, online workshops, mental health support and more.

SPORT – A double celebration for Freewheel North, who also won the Public Service north east heat.

The NORTH WEST winners are:

TEAM - Glasgow Baby Food Bank helped 3000 vulnerable families during lockdown with essential supplies.

INDIVIDUAL – Fraser Devine, the driving force behind men’s mental health charity Men Matter Scotland.

PUBLIC SERVICE - A second win for Glasgow Baby Food Bank which also won the Team award.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING - North Glasgow Community Food Initiative who run a variety of inspirational ‘food hub’ activities which bring people together.

SPORT – Popular karate club JKS Glasgow .

The SOUTH winners are:

TEAM – Friends of the Southern Necropolis,well-known for their work transforming the Gorbals cemetery and lockdown support sessions for Gorbals and Oatlands residents.

INDIVIDUAL - David Patterson, hard-working volunteer at Riverside Hall Community Centre

PUBLIC SERVICE - Susanne Lyall, a support and learning worker at Riverside Primary School

HEALTH AND WELLBEING - Cancer Coach, run by Cancer Support UK, which provides free support to people who are struggling to cope with life post-treatment.

SPORT - Sparta Trampolining Club who supported their community during lockdown.

The three citywide categories are: Uniformed Service, Young and School.

UNIFORMED SERVICE : The finalists are: Gorbals Community Policing Team, for its bike theft initiative; NHS GGC - Glasgow City Quit Your Way Community Services,, for its fantastic anti-smoking drive; and Scotservs, based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, is the country’s only volunteer emergency medical transport charity.

YOUNG: The finalists are: CHAS fundraiser Che Gallagher, who raises money for the children’s hospice in memory of his brother; St Roch’s Secondary pupil Mary Jane Anderson , who supports vulnerable young people; and the small but mighty Ardoch Childcare Centre’s Litter Team.

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SCHOOL: The finalists are: The six FARE Community Allotment schools - Fare Play Nursery, St Clare’s Day Nursery, Lochview Nursery, Oakwood Primary, St Benedict’s Primary and Lochend Community High School, who all helped transform the garden into a welcoming community hub.

St Paul’s Primary – The Shettleston school is proud of its Plot to Plate project, which has encouraged pupils to grow their own food and cook with the harvested produce.

Westercraigs Nursery – The nursery created a raft of support initiatives during lockdown, including a YouTube channel where staff shared stories and play sessions, weekly home link packs full of fun activities and more. Its garden helps promote outdoor learning, sustainability and life skills.