This year’s annual Community Newspaper of the Year Awards took place on Friday 14 March in the Callander Youth Project.

Community newspapers from across the area came together to celebrate the role they play in community life and in reporting local issues and events.

Forth Valley College’s judge Martin Boyle said: “It’s a remarkable achievement that publications, big and small, continue to capture the energy of life in these communities. People are at the heart of any good story, they bring it alive, and they breathe life into all of the publications in the same way that people breathe life into our communities. Every word which helps to bring communities together is a word well used, and it is, as always, a real pleasure to the see the time, dedication, care and love which goes into these publications.’ Top awards this year went to the Killin News (circulation over 500) and The Bridge (circulation under 500) who won the Community Newspaper of the Year Awards with Best Article won by The Villagers’ Richard Harris.

Young people also featured this year with the Youth Contributor of the Year Award under-14 being won by the Press Gang from Killearn Primary School (Killearn Courier) and over-14 by Ambreen Rasool (Buchlyvie Bulletin).

Awards for Outstanding Service were also given to volunteers for their dedication for their newspapers.

The evening, organised by the Community Newspaper Forum, the umbrella organisation for community newspapers, is supported by Stirling Council’s Community Engagement Team and recognises and celebrates the voluntary contribution the community newspapers make to their communities.

More information can also be found at: http://www.stirling.gov.uk/services/community-life-and-leisure/leisure-clubs-groups-and-societies/community-newspaper-awards-general