A new local community champion award is being launched next year by North Ayrshire Provost Ian Clarkson.

The Provost Recognition Awards will kick off in May 2020 and will recognise those inspiring and influential groups/individuals who have made a difference in the North Coast and Cumbrae - including Largs, Fairlie, West Kilbride, Skelmorlie and Millport.

Nominations will open on Valentine’s Day 2020 and an awards ceremony will take place at Largs Campus in May.

Provost Clarkson said: “I am absolutely delighted to be launching the Recognition Awards. I have loved being involved in the Civic Pride Awards - they have been hugely successful.

“But I felt we needed to try and get right into our localities to find even more gems within our communities.

These awards are a variation on the Provost’s Civic Pride Awards, which have been running for the last nine years, and aim to get into the very heart of our communities.

“The new format will see award events aligned with our locality partnerships which will see more local people rewarded for the excellent work they carry out

“The partnerships will be involved in the shortleeting process and we hope lots of local people get involved and nominate the people or groups who make a difference to them, their families or just the community in general.”

The Award categories are as follows: Community Group of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Special Achievement Award

The Provost Recognition Awards will take place on Saturday 16 May from 11-1pm.