NEW ‘Spirit of Selkirk’ awards are proposed to recognise the positive contribution townsfolk make to community life.

When members of Selkirk Community Council meet at Victoria Halls on Monday, January 8, they will be presented with a proposal from Selkirkshire councillor Caroline Cochrane.

The aim of the  Spirit of Selkirk awards is to honour persons who are making significant contributions to the town through their “time, actions, talents and dedication”.

It is seen as an opportunity to thank people who have done something special for the community and will honour those individuals and community groups who have gone “above and beyond” to support residents throughout Selkirk in the year.

The proposal is that the awards would be incorporate various categories, including a Spirit of Selkirk Special Recognition Award – to an individual who regularly puts others before themselves and are generous with their time to support an individual or group.

Other sections are to be Volunteer of the Year, Young Person of the Year, Good Neighbour of the Year and Community Group of the Year.

If approved nominations would be open until the end of February with the awards staged in May, combining with the Standard Bearer evening.

Community council chair Andy Murray has offered his support for the proposal, saying: “It reflects what I know to be the case, the very positive action taken by local community groups.

“There are 68 local organisations that do an enormous amount of good work here in Selkirk and these awards would go some way to recognise the people who help make the community a better place and Selkirk such a pleasure to live in.”

Selkirk Community Council meets from 7pm in the Cruickshank Room at Victoria Halls on Monday.

Also on the agenda is a community police report and an update on the town twinning of Selkirk with Plattling in Bavaria, Germany.