TODAY we launch the first of our Pride of East Lancashire Awards -- the accolade for Community Groups.

In all there are more than 2,000 groups operating in communities throughout East Lancashire which make a huge difference to people's lives.

Each of these organisations fulfil very different needs and aim to improve some aspect within the community. Without them many people would have nowhere to turn.

This award, sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council Lancashire, gives you the reader the chance to nominate worthy contenders and tell us about projects you feel have made an outstanding contribution to the life and well being of the community.

You may have been helped by a group or recognise the good work carried out on behalf of others.

Contenders for this category might have been up and running for several years and already helped thousands of local people, or they might be newly established and targeting an area which previously had little support.

The prime task is to find groups which have been successful in helping others, but judges may also take into account good practice in terms of developing volunteers' skills or helping others with their learning and development skills.

Thisislancashire's special Pride of East Lancashire section...

You might want to nominate an organisation that offers advice on domestic violence or drug abuse which can mean the difference between life and death. Or you may recognise the importance of residents' associations which work to improve day to day life for hundreds of local people.

There are endless choices for potential nominees. Among the voluntary and community organisations helped by the Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) in East Lancashire, for example, are groups that provide advice and information or are centred on arts and crafts, carers, child services, counselling, drugs, leisure and recreation, environment issues, the elderly, homelessness, domestic violence, health, religion, tenants' association and many more.

Joanne Smith, small groups development officer for Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Council for Voluntary Service, said: "These groups are incredibly important. We live in a society where we don't really talk to our neighbours and it is not like it used to be. These groups are within the community to provide help."

As with all 11 of the Pride of East Lancashire Awards organisations can be entered by a third party or can enter themselves via entry forms in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Citizens and www.thisislancashire.co.uk

The winner of this award will receive £3,000 to spend on a specific project. This will be presented at a glittering awards night at King George's Hall, Blackburn on November 22.

All nominations must be received on or before October 1.

Thisislancashire's special Pride of East Lancashire section...