THE COUNTDOWN for this year's Community Stars awards is on with just days left to nominate the district's unsung heroes.

The awards, organised by the Telegraph & Argus and Bradford Council, are designed to give recognition to those striving to make a difference in their local communities. Our readers are being asked to nominate people before a panel of judges sift through all the nominations and whittle them down to a shortlist of nominees.

It will then be over to Bradfordians to vote for the winners, who will be unveiled at a ceremony to be held at the Bradford Hotel on Thursday, December 5, where each category winner will be honoured with the Bradford Medal. People must tell the person they are a nominee.

The Community Stars Awards are part of the People Can Make a Difference campaign and are also sponsored by Better Start Bradford.

Pauline Kitchen, group leader of the Norwood Avenue Residents Group in Shipley, has been put forward for the Good Neighbour category after transforming Norwood Avenue's communal garden into a blooming oasis.

The group itself dates back more than 25 years.

Pauline is nominated for "always encouraging those around her to pick up a trowel and shovel".

Her nomination said: "Pauline is truly inspiring and wants to spend every day in the garden.

"As well as creating a space for everyone to enjoy, maintaining the garden is good for the residents' wellbeing and keeps everyone fit. This little corner of Shipley is a force for good and lifts everyone's spirits."

AMYA Bradford, formally known as The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, has been nominated for the volunteer category.

AMYA Bradford is a group of more than 100 young Muslims who have strived to create a positive impact on society since the 1980's.

Since November 2018, AMYA has completed projects such as homeless feeding sessions, nursing home visits and gifts to the elderly, organising Christmas dinner shelters, food bank donations, blood drives and planting hundreds of trees.

The Outstanding Student Award will recognise a student who has made an outstanding contribution to their local community voluntarily. Any student nominated must be currently undertaking full or part-time study in Primary, Secondary, Higher and Further Education.

The community activity must be Bradford-based.

The Good Neighbour category is sponsored this year by Incommunities who will be looking out for people who "do extraordinary things to help others in their communities".

The other categories include Community Group, Volunteer, Community Champion, Better Start Bradford's Outstanding Contribution, Fundraiser, Young Active Citizen and Business.

People can nominate their Community Star here.

The deadline for entries is this Friday, October 4.