VOLUNTEERS, hardworking residents and inspiring young people will all be recognised in the finals of this year’s Community Pride awards.

Entries have flooded in for the awards from readers keen to highlight unsung community heroes, celebrating the people who work hard to make a difference and marking them out as the champions of the place where we live and work.

Three finalists have now been selected for each category in this year’s awards - a number of which were added to reflect the inspiring work against the Covid-19 pandemic. Winners will be revealed during a ceremony at York Racecourse on Thursday.

The finalists in this year’s Person of the Year award are David Geary, David Chapman and Professor Mike Holmes - who leads York’s mass vaccination centre at Askham Bar.

Youngsters looking to claim the Child of the Year prize include Finlay Price for his amazing fundraising work, alongside Milly Trueman and William Atkinson.

Meanwhile, in the final for the Spirit of Youth award is Mollie Ovenden, Walter McNeil and Ellie Redshaw.

This year’s Public Sector Heroes could be Yvonne French, Denise Quinn or Mervyn Bradish.

Three charity fundraisers, Michael Lacy, Joyce Gee and Jonny Cole will face off in the final for that award.

The finalists for the Volunteer of the Year award, recognising those who give up their time for others, include James Cooper, Barbara Suter and Jenni Futton.

This year’s Health Service hero could either be Kirstie Vancer, Rumina Onac, who has set up Sustainable Practices York, or Professor Mike Holmes.

Three Sporting Heroes, Nick Clifford, York City Knights player Will Jubb and the X Martial Arts group will look to claim that title.

Julie Norman, Yasmin Hilton and Rachel McNally, who all care for others, are in the final of the Carer of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Denise Quinn, Theresa Etheridge-Clarke and Jean Dawson, all nurses in the city, have reached the final of the Special Recognition Nursing Award.

Two doctors, Dr Chris Bennett and Dr Andrew Moriarty have reached the final of the Doctor of the Year award.

Another new award, the Mental Health Award, will see one of Professor Lynne Gabriel, Dr Martin Block and York Mind Activities Team win the prize.

Meanwhile, either York St John University Refugee Project, The Snappy Trust or Kyra Women’s Project will claim the community project prize.

In the final new category, GP Practice of the Year, either The Old School Medical Practice, Escrick Surgery or Front Street Surgery will claim the award.