A total of 56 groups and individuals have been selected across 11 categories. The awards are Queens Cross Housing Association’s way of recognising outstanding achievements in the community by local residents, employees, businesses and partners.

The Association looks after around 4500 homes in the city and is the parent company of the Queens Cross Group. The group’s chairman, Andrew Burns, led the judging panel. He said: “Due to Covid-19 we’ve not had a Pride of Queens Cross celebration since 2018 so we’ve got even more special individuals and projects to recognise than usual. I have been genuinely bowled over by some the stories we’ve heard and it’s been a mammoth, but enjoyable, task going through all the entries to get to this stage.

“Picking winners is going to be even harder as pretty much every entry has been worthy of recognition. There are so many examples of people, businesses, partners and Queens Cross staff going above and beyond to help others during what has been a very difficult time. It really is all about what makes Queens Cross such a special place to live.”

Categories being honoured on the night cover everything from individual awards for ‘Service to the Community’ to group awards for ‘Working Together for Better Neighbourhoods’ as well as one for the ‘Outstanding Local Business’.

Construction company Urban Union is the main sponsor of the event. Managing director, Neil McKay, added: “We are currently working on a new 600 home development for the Association so these awards are a great way of building positive relationships within the community where we work. It’s a great pleasure to recognise some of the great initiatives and individuals working to strengthen their neighbourhoods.”

The award ceremony takes place on Friday, October 7 at the Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel in the west end.

The shortlisted candidates are:

1. Outstanding Service to the 3. Community (community and staff)

For community

• Andy Wallis
• Braeside Community Garden
• May McVey
• Jean Forrester

For staff

• Susie Stott
• Jamie Ballantine
• June Burns & Yvonne Langan

2. Customer First

For staff

• Lynn Devlin
• James Ledger
• John Smith
• Cromwell House team
• Handyperson team

3. Leadership

For staff

• Jacqueline McMurchie
• James Fraser
• John Gray
• Sharon Freeman
• James Knox

4. Working Together for Better Neighbourhoods

For staff

• Nurture our Neighbourhoods working group
• Douglas, Allan and Robert (estate caretakers)

5. Environmental Champion (community and staff)

For community

• Keep Scotland Beautiful
• Andy Wallis
• Hopehill Garden Group

For staff

• Debbie Munro
• Handyperson team
• Graham & Graham (estate caretakers)

6. Health and Wellbeing Contributor (community and staff)

For community

• Firhill Youth Project

For staff

• Social Regeneration team
• Housing First for Young People
• Alana Stewart
• Dianne Mathewson
• Pauline Donnachie & Claire Brawley

7. Young People’s Outstanding Contribution to the Community (community and staff)

For community

• Chloe Stirling and Ally McAllister
• Bronwyn Wyper and Michael Graham

For staff

• Kira Motherwell and Regan Nixon
• Olivia Gizzi
• Investors in Young People working group

8. Outstanding Partner

For community

• Glasgow Sculpture Studio
• Police Scotland
• Baby Food Bank
• Courtyard Pantry

9. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions (community and staff)

For community

• Hopehill Garden Group

For staff

• Raymond Kilpatrick
• Cheryl Maxwell
• Jolene Schofield
• Rory O’Byrne

10. Outstanding Local Business

For community

• Glasgow Tool Library Courtyard Pantry
• The Hair Gardener
• Theresa Anne’s hair studio
• Kip McGrath

11. Good Neighbour Award

For community

• Helen Getty
• Marie Anderson
• Janet & Bill Scott
• Annette Moir
• Anne Ramsey