Streets Ahead Awards 2018: Which unsung hero do you think should win?

THE Streets Ahead Awards are back – and we want to hear who you think should win.

In yesterday’s Evening Times we launched our search for the inspiring individuals and great groups making Glasgow a brilliant place to live, work and play.

The winners will be announced at a fantastic ceremony inside the People’s Palace Winter Gardens on June 19, hosted by Glasgow City Council and supported by our other partners Scottish Fire and Rescue, City Building and City Charitable Trust.

In Scotland’s Year of Young People, it’s fitting that schools remain at the heart of our campaign which aims to bring neighbours together to improve their communities.

One of last year’s big winners was Adelphi Nursery, which won Best School for its outstanding community projects.

As well as looking after their own hens and collecting eggs to barter in the local community, the children teamed up with the High Rise Bakers community baking project, and have learned how to grow wheat to make their own bread.

But it’s more than a simple baking project. Adelphi Nursery is home to around 80 children, from many cultural backgrounds, who speak 19 languages between them.

The hens, in their new home built by apprentices from our Streets Ahead partners City Building and aptly called Cluckingham Palace by the children, have brought parents and the wider community into the school, breaking down barriers and building relationships.

Headteacher Julie Carey says: “We have been really busy since winning our Streets Ahead award. Our hens are laying well, and we still have a great relationship with the High Rise Bakers – in fact, we are taking part in a breadmaking workshop this week.”

Recent bad weather, and in particular the high winds, hindered the nursery’s plans to grow wheat, but Julie is confident the project will soon be back on track.

She added: “We hope to continue working with breadmaking project Soil to Slice and will put up screening and replant this year so we can mill our own flour later on in 2018.”

The Adelphi pupils have become experts in chickens and eggs, too, as Julie explains.

“Our children will be taking the incubator over to St Francis’ Primary and TASK nursery to teach them how to raise chickens, and we are now part of Glasgow City Council’s Early Years Learning for Sustainability group,” she adds.

“We have a popular recycle rail where children and parents enjoy getting pre-loved clothes every Tuesday and we have managed to keep our commitment to the Cost of the School Day Campaign, going for more than year without any additional fundraising coming out of our families’ pockets.”

She smiles: “We have a lot to be glad about.”

Julie says winning a Streets Ahead award was a fantastic boost for pupils, parents and staff.

“Winning is a great source of pride for our nursery and it really raised awareness about what we do and how even the smallest of changes can make a difference,” she adds.

“We are very grateful to the Evening Times and its partners for giving us the opportunity to shine.

“I hope this year’s winners enjoy it just as much as we have.”

To nominate yourself or someone else, visit the dedicated awards website at newsquestscotlandevents.com/streetsahead

You can also email lyndsay.wilson@heraldandtimes.co.uk or call 0141 302 7407.

We will be awarding eight prizes, including an overall winner, to be announced at a special ceremony on June 19.

There will be trophies for the best garden, best clean-up campaign, best environmental initiative, best community garden, best community initiative and best business initiative, plus a schools award.

The overall winner will be chosen from the winners of all the other categories.

Closing date for entries is May 3.