Local Hero Awards: Nominate your community stars

Last years overall winners Freddie and Sheila Buchanan with their award. Picture: Ian Georgeson

THEY are the inspirational community champions, fundraisers and carers who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often without the recognition they deserve.

Many have shown exceptional courage, battled through adversity or gone above and beyond in the line of duty.

Others have made a profound difference by fighting for their community or have made great personal sacrifices to care for a friend or family member.

But all of these unsung heroes – young and old – have shown that ordinary people do extraordinary things and have inspired their community in some way.

With the launch of the Local Hero Awards 2015, the Evening News is determined to show them that their bravery and hard work has not gone unnoticed.

“We are so proud to be sponsoring the Local Hero Awards and we look forward to getting the chance to really celebrate the unsung heroes in our area,” said Kai Hepworth, regional operations manager of award sponsor Costa.

“There are some really inspirational people in our community who go above and beyond, dedicating their own time and efforts to benefit the communities in which they live and these awards will be all about honouring them.”

The glitzy awards ceremony will be held on Friday, June 5 in the Assembly Rooms in George Street when around 300 people will gather to honour the winners.

In attendance will be panel of judges including Frank O’Donnell, managing editor of The Scotsman, Edinburgh Evening News and Scotland on Sunday. He said: “There are numerous reasons why we should all be proud to live in and around Edinburgh.

“But the most important one of all is the incredible people who live and work here and who make it one of the greatest cities on the planet.

“The Local Hero Awards aim to honour the talented and the brave, the compassionate and the determined. The people who make Edinburgh and Lothians what it is today.