NOMINATIONS are open for an awards scheme set to celebrate those who selflessly help to keep the fabric of Wee County society together.

Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) has opened up entries for this year's Volunteers' Week Awards with a ceremony to be held in June.

An annual tradition, the awards night will be the Wee County's chance to come together and celebrate the area's volunteers along with the wider work of the charity sector.

The initiative has also last year taken over the administration of the Lord Lieutenancy’s Citizen of the Year and the Provost’s Young Citizen of the Year awards, which will continue in 2024.

Along with the citizen of the year awards, there are seven categories for volunteers to be nominated in, both for adults and younger people as well as for good causes and organisations.

Entries are sought for Clackmannanshire Community Champion of the Year, for which anyone over the age of 18 can be nominated.

Younger people can be nominated for Clackmannanshire Young Person of the Year while Community Group of the Year will seek to recognise organisations that made a difference in the Wee County.

The Community Project with the Greatest Impact Award and Trustee of the Year categories are also open for entries while the Community Spirit Award will be aimed at those who volunteer informally.

Added to the list of accolades this year is the Improving Health and Wellbeing Award, open to individuals who are working to improve lives in the Wee County.

Chris White, CTSI's volunteer development officer, said: “To say thank you to as many groups, projects, and individuals as possible, CTSI hopes the community and the local third sector will support us in our efforts to highlight as many people as possible.

“Nominations are now open and will close at 5pm on Sunday, April 14.

“As a thank you to nominators, they can enter a prize draw for a £50 Amazon gift voucher.”

The 2024 invite-only awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 6, at Tillicoultry's Devonvale Hall from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

It follows last summer's event, which crowned a week of celebrating all things volunteering.

Plenty of prizes were handed out with the night also incorporating the former Citizen of the Year awards, now called the Provost's Young Person of the Year and the Lord Lieutenant’s Clackmannanshire Community Champion of the Year.

The awards went to Kate McLaren, from Play Alloa, and Kenny Quinn, of Forth Valley Men's Shed, respectively.

People are encouraged to visit https://ctsi.org.uk to put individuals and groups forward for an award.