A WOMAN at the heart of major projects in her community has been nominated for an award.

Proud peers of Pauline Buchanan have put her name forward for a Community Pride gong to recognise her efforts to revive St Clements' church hall, which now provides a home for a number of events in York.

Ms Buchanan, 70, who was nominated by Rose Berl, a trustee of the hall, was instrumental in bringing the run-down church hall back into use in 2010.

It now hosts key events, including Food and Fun, a programme offering a free hot meal to the isolated every two weeks and a cinema club.

Ms Buchanan, of Kyme Street, Bishophill, is also part of a unique committee at the Golden Ball pub, in Bishophill, which made history in 2012 when it became the first in the city to be entirely run by its regulars.

She also has a key role the YORspace project to address unaffordable housing and rising rents.

Speaking about Ms Buchanan's Community Project nomination, Mrs Berl told The Press: "Ms Buchanan has contributed and is continuing to contribute to our community.

"She was one of the chief initiators of the bid to have the derelict church hall of St Clements Church - a listed building designed by Brierley - restored and brought back to life as the thriving community centre, Clements Hall.

"She was chairman of the board of trustees of the Clements Hall trust in the first years of putting the centre on its feet.

"Another project she was a inspiration for is Food and Fun - a fortnightly hot lunch and activity which is for the over-55s and helps some people who are alone."

Mrs Berl became aware of her friend's work when she began volunteering at the church in 2011.

She added: "She has done so much for the community and Clements Hall is an important part of it.

"We have a community cinema once every two weeks which we wouldn't be able to have without the hall.

Community Pride is run by The Press and the City of York Council, and the principal sponsor is Benenden.

All nominees must live in, or contribute to life in, the City of York area. Around three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed.

You can make a nomination online at yorkpress.co.uk/communitypride/. Entries must be submitted by Friday, July 17.