The spotlight will be on unsung heroes next week at an awards ceremony recognising people and projects which help communities.

Designer Linda Barker, who was born in Shelf, is hosting the event on Thursday, January 24, at Grattan Stadium, Odsal, Bradford.

From the dozens of nominations, a shortlist of 23 people and projects are now in the running for the seven awards. The winners will be announced on the night.

Some of those shortlisted include Bradford Council's environmental task force in the Neighbourhood Renewal Award category; community ground Shared Vision, set up by Imrana and Romana Farooq to provide services for women aged 11 to 20 in the Voluntary Service category; Ikram Butt, the driving force behind the British Asian Rugby Association; and Jean Walker, of Bradford Senior Power, both in the Active Citizen category; and Linking Communities Project in the 2020 Vision Award category.

This is the second time the awards have been held.

They are organised by Bradford Vision, the strategic partnership which tries to help improve life in the district.

Helen Platts, Bradford Vision's neighbourhood renewal director, said: "This is a fantastic chance to pay tribute to people who really make a difference but rarely make the headlines." Linda Barker, a former pupil of The Girls' Grammar School, Bradford, said: "I know there are some amazing people doing brilliant work in the Bradford district.

"The Vision Awards are a great way of giving some of them the credit and recognition they deserve."

The awards include: - Neighbourhood Renewal Award: Denholme Environ-ment Action Group; Bradford Council's Environmental Task Force; Simon Loveitt.

- Business Supporting Community Award: Ciba; Hashim Designs; Pot Black; private sector members of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative steering group.

- 2020 Vision Award: Consortia of Ethnic Minority Organisations (COEMO); Anne Jay; the Linking Communities Project; St Matthew's Church.

- Enterprise Award: Gumption Centres Ltd; Krystyna Trybula of AIM language classes; Suburb Magazine.

- Young Citizen Award: Elana Davies; Stacey Whiting; Uzma Zahid.

- Voluntary Service Award: Community Parent Volunteers; Islamic Cultural Educational Association; Shared Vision.

- Active Citizen Award: Jaz Athwal; Ikram Butt; Jean Walker.