GLASGOW would fail to flourish if it wasn't for community spirit. It was a statement which met with warm applause and the sound of drumming feet from over 200 gathered at the city's Partick Burgh Hall last night.

It was a case of the magnificent seventh for the latest event in the Glasgow Community Champion Awards calendar.

This time it was the turn of West Central and City Centre community heroes to take a bow.

From school pupils, through young fire service cadets, to law students and elderly citizens celebrating 60 years of helping others, the awards finalists spanned several generations and cultures.

The ceremony handed out six awards from a field of 18 finalists, bringing together workers in the voluntary, public and private sector under one roof.

The fifth-year students of Notre Dame High School in Dowanhill experienced a mixture of emotions after they made the shortlist for their fundraising activities for Yorkhill children's hospital and Epilepsy Scotland.

The pupils began their activities as a way to remember their classmate Gemma McLaughlan, an epilepsy sufferer who passed away two years ago.

Principal teacher of pastoral care Christine Downie said: "The girls have worked on a decking area and a bench for those who want to go somewhere private to remember her."

Hillhead High School featured twice in the awards: basketball coach John Campbell picked up the Public Service Individual Award, while a group of sixth-year students forming a charities committee were runners-up in the Young Community Champion category.

The committee of female students raised more than £8000 for charity in the last academic year.

Laura Pollock, 17, said: "This was our chance to run a charity the way we wanted. It was a shock but an honour to be nominated."

Heart-felt cheering, laughter and emotion were poured out as the neighbourhood's shining stars stepped into the spotlight.

It was particularly memorable for Sheena Glass, director of Public Service Team winners Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association who gushed happy tears as she picked up the award.

She told the audience: "This is for all you senior citizens out there!"

Sheena, who has helped build up a network of over 2000 volunteers in her 30 years with the 60-year-old charity, made it a family affair, as her brother Donald Urquhart was a runner-up in the Individual category for his campaigning on housing and history issues.

Donald, 71, who has Parkinson's Disease, said: "I'm very honoured and very surprised ... this is a recognition of what's being done for the people of Glasgow.

"If we all took the same opportunity of helping people, then it would be a better world that we lived in."

Veteran Dundasvale housing campaigner George Fraser, 72, a volunteer counsellor and tenant homes inspector, picked up his certificate for being finalist in the Neighbour category.

The young cadets of Strathclyde Fire and Rescue turned out in number to represent their course co-ordina-tor Nicola McAndrew, who was not able to attend the ceremony.

The 21 recruits were selected from a field of around 2000 applicants, many of whom responded to an advert in the Evening Times.

Cadet Craig Smith, 18, of Easterhouse, paid tribute to his leader, saying: "She's a good boss and gives us different stuff to do whether it's charity work or operational drills.

"I'm nervous - I didn't know my 'big boss' Brian Sweeney was going to be here - but I'm excited."

Guests browsed stalls set up by representatives of the awards partners, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Community Planning Partnership and the Evening Times, while community news editor Helen Smith demonstrated our dedicated neighbourhood websites.

Students from the Strathclyde University's Law Clinic, who offer free legal services to needy people, know the importance of a strong social conscience.

Third-year student Alasdair Stewart, 20, of Newton Mearns said: "It's a great feeling when you can go to an employment tribunal and win £6000 for someone who might not otherwise have representation."

The awards ceremony gave a flavour of the diverse cultures in this neighbourhood.

Public Service Individual Award finalist Ramzan Shah, who founded ASRA, a social centre for elderly and disabled people from ethnic minority groups, said: "It's all about working together. When it's a joint effort then you can work to achieve more."

Representatives from Action For Children San Jai Chinese Family Project in Garnethill toasted their staff making the shortlist in the Team Award.

Louise Chan said: "I'm very pleased that my team have the passion to support young people and children from the Chinese community.

"It's about how to help people integrate into the local community and promote equality and diversity in Glasgow."

Entertainment from dancers Maria Chirinos and Martiza Rodriguez, born in Venezuela and Colombia respectively, added a lively splash of colour. The women teach under the banner of Clan Macondo: Women's World Rhythms at classes in Whiteinch and Sighthill.

Sandra White MSP summed up the atmosphere, saying: "These people don't want an award - they do it out of the goodness of their hearts - but it's nice to be recognised."

Last night's event was the seventh of 10 ceremonies. All 60 winners from across the city will be invited to the grand final in October.

The search for neighbourhood heroes living between Castlemilk and Langside areas begins next week for the next event to be held at Langside Halls on June 23.

The full list of nominations follows: