Exciting new changes for this year include a new format, a public vote to decide regional winners and a fabulous new category dedicated to teaching staff across the city.

Over the next few weeks we will be catching up with previous winners to inspire you to get involved – today, the fantastic people of the north-east take a turn in the spotlight.

From Easterhouse to Dennistoun, Garthamlock to Baillieston and everywhere in between, there are fantastic initiatives and inspiring individuals doing great work for the benefit of their communities.

Teams from the north east triumphed in two categories at last year’s Grand Final.

Royston Youth Action, an impressive group which has been helping young people reach their full potential for almost 30 years, were crowned Public Service winner, while Police Scotland’s Baillieston Local Problem Solving Team won the Uniformed Services category.

Formed by a group of mothers worried about the lack of facilities for their children and determined to overturn the area’s negative image, Royston Youth Action has become a force to be reckoned with, supporting schools and parents across a range of activities.

Around 350 people benefit from the services delivered by RYA every year, from the younger ones who take part in team-building activities and attend residential trips, to the older citizens overcoming isolation and loneliness thanks to the group’s initiatives.

The group was over the moon to win, firstly, the north east heat and then the final.

On the night, RYA senior youth worker Richard Sherlock said: “It’s great to be a part of something like this which allows the young people to feel inspired. We just want to do continue to do a better job and promote our organisation as well as we can.”

The hard-working Baillieston Local Problem Solving Team has formed successful partnerships with local schools and businesses on a range of initiatives designed to make the north east of Glasgow a safer place.

The officers have transformed relationships between the police and the community, improved communication, reduced crime and inspired young people – a fantastic achievement on all fronts.

In one of the many testimonies submitted to the judges, one of the delighted teachers involved in the project summed up the impact the team had made on young people in the Baillieston area.

“Through interacting with our pupils and staff, the views of our pupils have changed – they love seeing the police officers in the school and they want to share their personal stories and successes with them – they see the officers as positive role models.

We want to hear about inspirational individuals and great groups in your area – who do you think deserves recognition for fantastic community work?

You can nominate anyone, from the hardworking coach of young person’s sports team, to a nurse who goes above and beyond the day job; from an inspirational teenager making waves at school to a pensioner who campaigns for better services.

Tell us why they should win and remember to include lots of detail and photographs to support your entry.

You can nominate on the website at https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/glasgowcommchamps/

The closing date for entries is Tuesday, September 17. A shortlist will then go to a public online vote to determine the winners in each area, who will then progress to the Grand Final at Glasgow City Chambers on December 6.

A judging panel made up of representatives from the awards’ partners, will decide the Grand Final winners.