After months of anticipation, the day has finally arrived to commend Dundee’s finest community heroes in a sparkling ceremony.
The Evening Telegraph Community Spirit Awards, in association with Beat the Banks, take place tonight at the Caird Hall.
An audience of more than 300 is expected, including all shortlisted nominees across 12 award categories and their guests.
One nominee who has been there before is PC Ryan MacDonald, leader of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteers in Dundee for the past 18 months.
Ryan, who is nominated for the Uniform Services Award, was in attendance last year as his youth volunteers themselves triumphed in the same category.
Ryan told the Tele: “The evening last year was great, firstly because we took around eight young people along with us, and for many this was the first time they had been to anything like that.
“The hype around the night was massive for them and the event itself was really good but what I was most excited about was the aftermath.
“Because the awards were given a lot of coverage in the paper and we had won the award, we then had more than 12 volunteering opportunities come in from people needing help with events, galleries and all sorts.
“The interest in our project and what we could offer increased massively as a result of the publicity that came with winning the award.”
Also in attendance will be representatives from the many sponsors who have made the evening possible.
Mike Begg, director of headline sponsor Beat the Banks, will make an introductory speech, along with host Martel Maxwell and Evening Telegraph editor Steven Bell.
Mr Begg said: “The Evening Telegraph Community Spirit Awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements of some very special Dundee residents, and we are delighted to be the headline sponsor of this fantastic event.
“We love the ethos of the awards and believe it fits perfectly with our own, and we can’t wait for the night.
“We would like to congratulate all those that have been nominated — that in itself is a wonderful achievement — and wish you all the best of luck for the night.”
• DON’T miss Monday’s Tele for an eight-page picture special featuring all the amazing nominees and winners.