Meet our East End heroes!

We were inundated with entry forms telling us of inspirational stories and remarkable charities committed to enhancing lives in the Greater Easterhouse, Shettleston and Ballieston areas.

The winners will be named at a high profile event at The Bridge leisure complex on Monday November 17. It's also your chance to meet representatives from awards partners Strathclyde Police, Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership and the Evening Times.

The event is the first of ten such nights. The second, covering the West of Glasgow, will be held at Drumchapel Community Centre on December 2. The nominees from all ten areas will then be invited to a gala ceremony in the City Chambers next September.

A judging panel whittled the entries from the East End down to a shortlist of 22 nominees across the six categories.

The panel was made up of representatives from the partner agencies of the awards. It consisted of Paul Conroy from Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Councillor Catherine McMaster, Chief Inspector Helen Swann, Group Commander Gerry Lyons and Evening Times assistant editor Graeme Smith.

Here's our pick of the East's extraordinary people and teams fighting to make their area a better place to live. INDIVIDUAL AWARD Con Allison

SEEING a young family struggling to transport a single bed in the lashing rain was the inspiration for Con to begin his voluntary career in 1975.

Since then Con, who is from Riddrie, has helped needy families find furniture and household goods through the St Vincent De Paul charity. Sharon Smith

THE 39-year-old from Provanhall started as a volunteer and now works nine hours a week getting young people into workshops.

Sharon fundraises for Newhills School and has run the Women's 10k in aid of Cancer Research. Marjory Maxwell

MARJORY represents volunteers as chairwoman of the Voluntary Community Organisation Support Network. She began her community work by joining the board of the local housing association, and is studying part-time at the Central College of Commerce. TEAM AWARD The Gladiator Programme

The Gladiator Programme has become a city-wide project encouraging kids to learn about play and sport.

The seven-foot Gladiator mascot leads play sessions at hundreds of primary schools, while teenagers are bussed into the sports HQ at Auchinlea Road. Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse

The FARE project is also shortlisted in the Public Service Team category. See below. Greater Easterhouse Supporting Hands

FOR almost 30 years, GESH has provided a lifeline for those with physical disabilities or learning difficulties.

The Garthamlock project has over 350 members, but only one paid member of staff, relying on 40 volunteers. It was set up by Maureen Ferrie, 61, and husband Michael, 81. The Gladiator Programme Eddie and Grace Andrews Con Allison Maureen Morris Andrew Dearie PUBLIC SERVICE INDIVIDUAL AWARD Maureen Morris

THE former chairwoman of the Wellhouse Community Trust, began community work more than 30 years ago. She is the treasurer of the Glasgow East Mental Health Service Users & Carers Forum, the chairwoman of the Easterhouse Festival Forum, on the management committee of Easterhouse CAB, a member of the Glasgow Women's Health Forum and Gender Based Violence Working Group, and secretary of the Wellhouse & Queenslie Community Council. Constable Kenneth Sewell

Kenneth is a popular face around Barlanark where he's simply Kenny'.

A policeman for 31 years and a community officer for the last five, he has established great community relationships, regularly volunteering on his days off. This year he helped set up a community garden, organised rubbish clean-ups and worked on a project tackling territorial issues. Russell Robertson

Russell's work on homelessness and health spans three decades. As a co-ordinator with East Glasgow Community Health & Care Partnership, he works with housing providers and health services to help people with problems keep their tenancies.

Russell has raised more than £6000 for homeless charities. PUBLIC SERVICE TEAM AWARD Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse

FARE is a community project for young people which has after-school care, youth clubs, music workshops, an outreach programme, a learning centre and cafe.

It also breaks down territorial boundaries through the Greater Easterhouse Mini Olympics every June. Oral Health Action Team

The team has fostered 43 breakfast clubs since 1986, encouraging 800 children to brush their teeth.

Its target is that by 2010 at least 60% of primary seven pupils will have no sign of dental disease. Smoke Free Homes and Zones

THANKS to the team at Eastbank Health Promotion Centre in Shettleston, 564 families have pledged to restrict smoking in their homes. It means that 1001 children are now living in healthier environments. The Communities Unit - Strathclyde Police

THE team covering Shettleston, Ballieston and Greater Easterhouse meets with residents every month to identify ways to cut down crime and anti-social behaviour. Cases of vandalism are down by 20%, anti-social behaviour by 8% and violent crime is at its lowest in five years. YOUNG PERSON AWARD Andrew Dearie

The Garmthamlock runner has his sights set on gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The 15-year-old has represented Scotland Under 17s and the Scottish Schools team 1500m, and in 2007 won the 1500m race for his age group at the European Youth Championships . Joseph Mearns

The 15-year-old who is preparing for eight Standard Grades at St Andrew's Secondary in Carntyne, has shown remarkable courage.

He was born with no arms and has a severe curvature of the spine. He also has epilepsy and recently had surgery to remove a brain tumour, returning to school to proclaim himself brand new'.

Year head Kevin Quinn said: "His peers look on him as an ordinary boy within the school, yet for all of the staff, pupils and anyone associated with St Andrew's he is an extraordinary example of an inspirational figure." Patrick Molloy

PATRICK acts as a roving ambassador for young people. The 16-year-old from Rogerfield is on the committee of the Easterhouse YouthBank, an grant-giving initiative run by young people to improve communities.

He also organises music events for youngsters. Lochend Community High

TEN fifth-year pupils helped in the classrooms at the autism unit in Provanhall Primary School and raised £800 for the children as part of the Duke Of Edinburgh Award Youth Management Committee - FUSE

Ten youngsters are transforming the former Sheiling bar on Shettleston Road into a youth cafe called Fuse. NEIGHBOUR AWARD Eddie & Grace Andrews

THe couple are popular faces at the Hub centre in Wellhouse.

Eddie, 50, began as a volunteer, but is now employed by the Trust. He is chair of the Wellhouse & Queenslie Community Council, organises a weekly Walking and Heritage Club and has secured land for allotments.

Grace, 50, volunteers over 30 hours a week organising fundraising events, doing sewing alterations and collecting money for the local Credit Union. Bert Ingram

THE residents of Elmslie Court sheltered housing in Ballieston have a local hero the 88-year-old who has campaigned for grants for residents, petitioned for a better pedestrian crossing and encourages his neighbours to be involved in tenant activities and committees. Sammy Cox

THE community activist is a founding member and chairman of the Community Planning Group for Garthamlock and Craigend. The Garthamlock grandfather ran a school football league for almost 25 years, challenging sectarianism and gangs. Marion Renau

Marion, from Carmyle, runs a twice-weekly Youth Club in St Joachim's Church in her part-time job as a youth worker, but does unpaid work running youth groups at Bannerman and Eastbank schools and at John Wheatley College. She has been a volunteer baseball coach for 11 years.