Leyton Orient’s Community Sports Programme (LOCSP) has been shortlisted for a Football Business Award.

There are seven other nominations in the category of Best Football Community Scheme, with Leyton Orient up against east London rivals West Ham United for the work of their Community Sports Trust.

The winner of the award will be announced on November 7 and LOCSP CEO Neil Taylor says it would mean a lot to the charity to win.

He said: “It would mean recognition from the industry that we are doing something important and it raises our profile and gets people talking about the club as a community club, not just a football club.

“We take great pride in the fact that we were nominated.”

LOCSP, which turns 25 next year, currently works with an estimated 2,000 people every week, mostly helping young people to achieve their potential.

The charity runs a variety of community schemes from its base at The Score Centre in Oliver Road, Leyton, from BTEC courses for young people in sports and leisure to ‘silver surfing’ sessions teaching older people how to use the internet.

LOCSP raises over £1m a year to run its community outreach projects including an anti-gang programme led by first team player, Elliott Omozusi, who talks to young people about how sport was his way out of a life of crime.

The annual Football Business Awards, now in their second year, were designed to celebrate excellence and acknowledge success in the business of football and the positive impact of football on the community.

This year, finalists include more than half of the Premier League clubs as well as many big name brands in Football.