We want to hear about litter-picking primaries and community-minded secondaries for the fifth annual Streets Ahead Awards, which take place in June.
The closing date for entries is May 18, so don’t delay – get your application in as soon as possible.
To nominate yourself or someone else, visit the dedicated awards website at www.eveningtimesevents.com/streetsahead
You can also email lynsay.wong@heraldandtimes.co.uk or call 0141 302 6082.
Nursery, primary, secondary and assisted support for learning schools are all eligible to enter – perhaps you have helped create a community garden? Run a road safety scheme? Held clean-ups in the streets surrounding your school?
Whatever your school does to put it at the heart of its local community, we want to hear about it.
The Evening Times Streets Ahead awards, hosted by Glasgow City Council, give us the chance to turn the spotlight on those individuals and groups really making a difference to our streets, parks, gardens and communities all over the city.
Last year’s winners in the schools category were the pupils, staff and parents of Mount Florida Primary who helped to transform their school playground and surrounding area in the run up to the Commonwealth Games.
Their legacy project, which involved creating a huge banner made of clay birds, and adorning local railings and trees with knitted ornaments, was a huge success.
Perhaps your school has worked with local elderly people, like the pupils of Smithycroft Secondary School in the east end of Glasgow.
The young students came up with a great scheme to help older tenants in the local area by distributing bags of groceries.
The project is part of a qualification the young people are studying at school, developed by Wheatley Group – the parent organisation of Glasgow Housing Association – and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).
The pupils worked with GHA staff to get some hands-on experience of a community project and came up with the idea of buying goods, including, tea, coffee and soup, packing them into bags and distributing them.
GHA tenant Agnes Kelly, 74, from Carntyne, was delighted.
She said: “The bag was a great surprise – and a really nice gesture from the youngsters.
“It’s good that young people get involved in something like this and show they care about tenants.”
Stephen Brown, principal teacher of pastoral care at Smithycroft, added: “The young people worked closely with GHA staff, learning about their community and understanding the needs of tenants.
“It’s been a very successful project.”
Our judging panel will comprise representatives from all of our generous partners – Glasgow City Council, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Glasgow Housing Association, City Charitable Trust and ScotRail.
Elaine Bell, head of corporate social responsibility for ScotRail, said: “We believe we are much more than a railway operator and have a significant part to play in improving our communities – which is why Streets Ahead complements what we do.
“The Streets Ahead Awards are a fantastic opportunity to reward deserving community groups whose valuable hard work enriches the lives of people across Scotland.
“Our ScotRail in Community programme now includes a Cultural and Arts Fund and Station Communities Regeneration Fund, reinforcing our continuous commitment to assist people in enhancing their surroundings.”
GHA Chair Gordon Sloan said: “At GHA, our mission is to build better homes and better lives.
“We want communities to be cleaner, greener and safer – and to make them better places for everyone.
“Streets Ahead is also about bringing people together and helping them take pride in where they live.
“GHA tenants and staff work closely with other groups – including schools, churches and charities – to help create that lasting sense of community.
“Arranging litter picks and supporting community gardens, organising family fun days, holding tea dances and parties for older tenants as well as sporting events for young people, all help bring people together.
“That’s great for community spirit – just like Streets Ahead.
“We’re proud to be partners in Streets Ahead and to work with the Evening Times to help make a difference to this great city.”