Glasgow Community Champion heat winners revealed

Amazing individuals and fantastic groups from every corner of the city entered this year’s contest, and more than 10,000 votes were cast in the public poll to decide who should triumph in the North East, North West and South regions.

Today we can reveal the winners, who will now all go through to the Grand Final on December 8.

The Glasgow Times awards, in association with Glasgow City Council, Wheatley Glasgow, Trades House of Glasgow and Merck, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

Over the next four pages, we will announce the heat winners in the Team, Individual, Senior and Health and Wellbeing categories.

We will also announce the final contenders for the city-wide categories - Public Service, Uniformed Service, Young, Sport and School.

The winners of those sections will be announced at the glittering grand final, along with two special trophies - The Lord Provost’s Award and The Editor’s Award.

In the Team Award category, the North East winner is Ruchazie Pantry; the North West winner is The Courtyard Pantry; and the South winner is South West Arts and Music Project (Swamp).

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The team at Ruchazie Pantry provide high-quality, low-cost food and organise a raft of community initiatives, from gala days and litter picks to women’s groups and peer support.

The Courtyard Pantry helps people beat food poverty and provides local employment and volunteering opportunities.

Courtyard Pantry (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Swamp provides welfare rights advice, mental health support, skills development and a community helpline, which supported more than 2000 families last year.

The Individual Award in the North East went to Kenny Trainer, of Bluevale Community Club; the North West winner is Laura Torrance, of Spinal Cord Injuries Scotland; and the South winner is Amanda Smith.

Kenny Trainer (Image: Newsquest)

Kenny Trainer is the powerhouse behind Bluevale Community Club, transforming local services in Dennistoun and giving up many hours of free time to support people of all ages.

Laura Torrance lives with a spinal injury and now provides peer support to others in need. Her kindness and understanding have helped many people face the challenges of living with a spinal condition, who might otherwise have had to cope alone.

Amanda Smith has transformed a derelict space near her home into a beautiful community garden which provides a restful and pretty spot for all ages.

Our Senior Award winners are Jean Menzies, of Carntyne Sunshine Club in the North West; Milton Rattlers, in the North West; and Annabell Palmer, of Great Pollok Services, in the South.

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Jean is the selfless volunteer who runs Carntyne Sunshine Club, providing support and encouragement to all 40 members. Frequently going the extra mile for her club, Jean has been helping her local community for more than 20 years.

The Milton Rattlers have gone from strength to strength since they started up with a handful of local people determined to make a difference in their community. They deliver everything from bingo nights to coffee mornings, supporting neighbours and friends and ensuring the community is healthy and happy together.

Annabell Palmer maintains a growing space in Nitshill to help her vulnerable neighbours, providing support and advice and helping to organise the local festival.

Growing Together in Drumchapel (Image: Newsquest)

In the North East, the Health and Wellbeing Award went to women’s running project Jiggly Joggers; in the North West the winner is Growing Together, which supports adults with learning disabilities in a range of activities; and in the South, the winner is Urban Youth Project, which provides life coaching and development support to young people.