JUDGES are still reading through the huge bundle of entries we have received for our Community Pride Awards – and they face some tricky decisions.

Seven more nominations for the Best Community Project category arrived shortly before last Friday’s deadline, presenting judges with a real headache.

A team of nine students from the University of York who helped pupils with special needs at Applefields School to set up a tuck shop are among the contenders.

Supported by the charity York Cares, the volunteers ran a series of workshops at the school to help the children learn the skills required to run the shop.

Columba’s Community Foundation, in Priory Street, is also in the running to win Best Community Project – a category sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

The Foundation is based at St Columba’s United Reform Church and offers free office accommodation and facilities to charities and voluntary groups in the city.

Professor Tom McGuffog, who nominated the project, said: “To date, the church has spent around £50,000 on this work, including the cost of turning substantial sections of the basement into modern offices.

“We want to be able to support more charities who are now asking for our help. This will involve converting more space within the church premises, and potentially elsewhere in York, and also providing management support to assist the charities in their work, especially in relation to publicity, fundraising and administration.”

Also in contention for the award is Starting Blocks, a scheme that provides supported work placements and skills workshops for young people aged 16 to 18 who are leaving care.

These young people often have a disrupted education, leading to low attainment levels, poor self-esteem and difficulty in finding employment.

Starting Blocks is a cross-employer initiative under the banner of York Cares – a charity that matches the interests, skills and expertise of York’s employees to community projects in the city.

The scheme has been so successful the Government has decided to incorporate it into its national From Care2Work scheme.

About 90 volunteers who worked against the clock to give the outdoor areas at Applefields School and Tang Hall Primary School a make-over have also been put forward for the award.

The York Cares Kids’ College Community Challenge project took place over three days and saw pupils and students from across the city team up with volunteers from businesses.

They created painting murals, vegetable patches, playground games and nature areas and also put up child-friendly safety barriers.

Another entry is a Come Dine With Me project run by six students from the University of York, who delivered a week-long programme of cultural cookery activities for children at St Lawrence’s Primary School.

Also in the running is York Cares Kids’ College Transport Module, which saw student volunteers work with volunteers from Northern Rail to put together a programme of workshops aimed at motivating children at risk of disengaging from mainstream education.

The youngsters were taken on a trip to Harrogate railway station, where they were shown behind the scenes and given the chance to announce a train over the station tannoy.

Dr Kate Harper, from York Cares, who nominated the project, said: “Teachers commented that children were more engaged in their learning, more curious about the world of work outside education and more inclined to ask questions following the trip.”

Finally, Broadway Action Group and Residents Association has been nominated by Fishergate ward councillor, Andy D’Agorne, for its tireless campaigning to improve pedestrian safety outside the shops in Broadway, Fulford.