WEST Dunbartonshire’s 2016 Citizen of the Year is urging residents to put forward their nominations for this year’s awards before the January 31 deadline.

Jennifer McGregor won top honours at the 2016 Provost’s Civic Awards for her work in raising awareness of the need for some people to have access to adapted clothing due to illness.

The 23-year-old has Crohn’s disease and has to wear a special bag on her abdomen following an operation.

Her business, CrohnieClothing, was set up to offer advice to people who need to wear adapted clothing and Jen also designs her own clothes, which she aims to take to the manufacturing stage later this year.

Jennifer says winning the Citizen of the Year award helped open many doors for her in her quest to launch her business and to bring a wider awareness of the issue. She said: “I look younger than I am so I often found that people wouldn’t take me seriously when I approached them with ideas.

“Winning the Citizen of the Year award certainly made a big difference on that front. People sit up and take notice.”

As well as helping to extend the reach of her support network for people in a similar position to her, the award has made a difference to Jen’s own level of support.

She added: “I always had a good online presence, but winning Citizen of the Year gave me a bigger profile in West Dunbartonshire – and that led me to realise how many people who live near to me also have a need for adapted clothing.

“That put me in touch with a wider network of people who support me and each other, which has been fantastic.”

The 2017 Provost’s Civic Awards is being held in partnership with the Wheatley Group. The annual awards celebrate residents who make a significant contribution to improving the area and the lives of people who live here.

Local heroes can be nominated across five categories and claim the titles of Arts and Culture Champion, Sports Champion, Community/Voluntary Champion (Individual), Community/Voluntary Champion (team) and Youth Champion.

From this shortlist, Provost Douglas McAllister will select one overall winner.

He said: “There isn’t much time left to nominate people who you think deserve to be recognised for their efforts in the local community.

“It is wonderful to hear that winning Citizen of the Year had such a positive impact on Jennifer McGregor’s life and her business and she has proven to be a truly inspirational figure.

“I hope she goes on to achieve everything she hopes for and that her story inspires a range of impressive nominations for 2017.”

The winners will be celebrated at an awards dinner and have their names added to the boards at Clydebank Town Hall.

They will also be guests of the Provost at the Queen’s annual garden party at Holyrood.

Nominations can be made online at www.provostawards.com or by completing the nomination forms available from libraries, GP surgeries, leisure centres and one stop shops.

The 2017 Provost Civic Awards, in partnership with The Wheatley Group, has the following category sponsors; Caledonia Housing Association, CCG, Morgan Sindall, West College Scotland and Commands.

Award categories are:

Arts and Culture Champion (sponsored by Caledonia Housing Association): The nominee can work in the arts in a voluntary or professional capacity. Typically they would have undertaken imaginative work in any one of the arts, such as drama, dance, music literature, the visual arts and crafts including photography and/or demonstrated good practice in the organisation of arts projects.

Sports Champion (sponsored by Commands): For individuals who have achieved recognition for their performances at local, national or international sport or who have contributed to local sports development or coaching.

Community /Voluntary Champion (individual) (sponsored by CCG): People who have made a positive contribution to the local community, e.g. additional activities or initiatives or outstanding service, which has led to an improved quality of life for the people of this area.

Community /Voluntary Champions (team) (sponsored by Morgan Sindall): Nominations are sought for those who have made a positive contribution to the local community.

Youth Champion (sponsored by West College Scotland ): For young individuals who have excelled in any field or have made a significant contribution to their local community. The nominee must be under the age of 18 at the time of nomination.