The finalists have been announced for the Fusion Awards 2009, a celebration of unsung heroes and heroines who contribute to their communities across the northwest.

This year's event, will be held at the Premier Suite Ewood Park, Blackburn on Saturday 30 May and aims to recognise those who do so much community work but are not always in the public domain.

Keeping with the Fusion awards tradition the list is again made up of people and groups from all walks of life and cultures. The winner for each category will be announced on the night.

NHS Blackburn with Darwen Public Service Award.

Ruqia Bibi and Samantha Uttley: The dedication and hard work of Samantha and Ruqia has seen them provide expert health care advice to over 300 young people every month. Inspector Nadeem Mir : currently an Inspector working at Salford Inspector Mir has implement a series of groundbreaking projects since joining the forc ein 1985.

Professor Romesh Gupta OBE: Professor Gupta has worked at the NHS Foundation Trust for over 20 years and is chair of Lancashire Gujarat Health Users Forum.

Sergeant John Rigby: Sgt Rigby is usually the first person for many in the community contact when on issues relating to religious, cultural and social affairs.

Blackburn wIth Darwen Council Community Cohesion Award.

Kaye Mahoney (Burnley): Her work has included implementing Safer Routes to Madrassas, parenting classes for Bangladeshi women and addressing important issues of alcohol, drugs and racism.

Saima Shah (Blackburn): Her exhibition called 'Modesty' featureed photographs of female and male Muslims and has been featured across the region in a variety of public buildings.

Fayyaz Ahmed (Preston): A community group led by thirty-five year old Fayyaz has helped to dispel myths by encouraging young people to partake in community events.

Muslim Jewish Forum (Manchester): In a year that has really tested relationships between these two communities this group has helped to open dialogue between people of different faiths.

Father Martin Saunders (Accrington): Father Saunders established Parasol in 2006 to assist Migrants from Eastern Europe and other areas with advice and support.

Learning and Skills Council Entrepreneur of the Year.

Faisel Atcha of Lawung: Lawung has become synonymous with providing many young people a completely new style of Islamic clothing.

Umar Mohammed, and Ahmed Suleman of Deliz Ltd: Cousins Umar and Ahmed’s one dip curry snack is an authentic Indian snack.

Nabeela Rehman of Number 1 Regent Street Spa and Gym: The salon has been described as an 'Oasis of calm' in the urban world’.

Farida Daud and Zahera Bahadur of Spice Fusion Corporate Catering Childhood friends and mums of three children and Farida and Zahera wanted way to combine their maternal responsibilities and their passion for food.

Lancashire Constabulary Community group Award.

Pendle Christian Asians (Nelson): A community group catering for families of Pakistani Christian descent living in Lancashire.

Saheli Women's Group (Manchester): Saheli provides safe spaces support, language assistance, and a voice and identity to South Asian women facing violence in their lives.

Fishwick Rangers Youth Development Team (Preston): Based in one of the most deprived wards in the region the group has encouraged young people to take a lead role in carrying out community projects themselves.

Blackburn & District Kidney Support Group: The first ever Asian led group in the UK aiming to support patients, their families and friends affected by kidney illness.

Our Future Steering (Oldham): A group of people whose inspiring film tells five different stories about school and parenting issues such as Attendance, Truancy, Smoking, Homework, Discipline and Forced Marriages.

Exchange@Blackburn Cathedral Youth Leadership Award.

Atifa Shah (Rochdale, aged 22): Former Youth Member of Parliament Atifa has helped to portray a positive image of young people in the community by taking part in a series of community projects.

Talha Patel (Preston): He has facilitated countless youth orientated projects in his city that have had a vast impact on the wider community.

Ghulam Abbas (Nelson) A volunteer youth worker who has helped not only to turn his own life around but those around him by making a positive impact on the area he lives.

Sobia Hussain (Blackburn) Volunteer Sobia was involved in organising a project aimed to give young people opportunities to visit a catholic church, a Hindu temple and Jewish Museum.

‘Playing our Part’ community project, Burnley This group of young men were unemployed and decided to unite together and tackle the issue of drugs and crime in their local area.

Shahi Qila Man of the Year.

Terry Burns (Burnley) A dedicated Lancashire County Councillor who almost single-handedly helped raise over £20,000 so he could ship school furniture to parts of Pakistan and India.

Kesser Ahmed (Bolton) Fundraising hero Kesser Ahmed lost his sight in a car accident but it did not stop him hurtling around a race-track at almost 150 mph to raise cash for charity.

Professor Iqbal Singh (Blackburn) The Lancashire doctor was this year elected on to the General Medical Council’s governing body.

Dizzy Tailor (Preston): An inspiration to anyone he meets Dizzy really has turned his life around and is using the lessons he has learned to steer people on the path to living a fulfilling and wealthy life.

Lancashire WIde Network for Minority Ethnic Women -Woman of the Year.

Sameem Ali (Manchester) Elected as a City councillor in 2007 Coun Ali 2007 has shared her own experiences of being forced into a marriage through her book 'Belonging' and through talks in the community and schools.

Samatiben 'Sue' Desai (Bolton) For over 20 years Samatiben has worked Royal Bolton Hospital’s Princess Anne Maternity Unit and this year was awarded an MBE to services to Social Care.

Zulekha Dala (Accrington) She is a founder member of the Awaaz Women's Group and has helped to organise a series of new projects in the region for women of all backgrounds.

Shahida Ahmed (Nelson) Work by traditional Islamic artist Shahida has proved to be a major success at International and national galleries.

Asian Image Achievement in Sport Award.

Haidher Riaz (Boxing) National shoolboy champion Haidher kntoched up a series of fantastic victories this year.

Harris Ali (Golf): Multi-talented Harris has excelled himself in different sports but this year his golfing skills propelled to centre stage.

Sonam Bhudia (Football): Sonam represents Bolton Wanderers Under 17s and trains with the SG Football Club.

Zubair Hoque (Racing Car driver) Has made his mark on the outdoor circuits and is hoping to compete in the British Cham