THE Streets Ahead spotlight is firmly focused on the younger members of society.

Pupils across Glasgow are backing our community campaign to improve our city...one street, playground, park or garden at a time.

Last week we revealed how Ibrox Primary was making an impact on its community by working with neighbours and local businesses.

Their efforts transforming waste ground into a community garden and organising regular litter-picks in surrounding streets and green spaces are exactly what Streets Ahead is all about.

We're delighted to award them a Streets Ahead grant of £1000 to help them kick-start a plan for a mini-orchard, allowing them to grow and harvest food for the school and community.

Principal teacher Fiona Young said: "This fantastic news - £1000 will make a massive impact on our school and the development of our playground in order to grow food.

"We're grateful to the Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign for its support - everyone at Ibrox Primary really appreciates it."

Another Glasgow school is helping to transform its neighbourhood as part of Streets Ahead.

Wellshot Primary in the East End is one of only a few schools in Glasgow to have its very own 'forest', as depute head teacher Tina Stoddart explained.

"We're very lucky to have a big wooded area at the back of our grounds, but for many years it has just lain empty and unused - the children weren't allowed to play in it," she said.

"When we started to look at how we could improve the playground, we thought we should really make something of it."

The children and teachers successfully applied for funding from the Commonwealth Communities Fund, and Glasgow City Council's school 'gardening guru' James McMahon helped them come up with a plan.

"Volunteers from many City Council departments came along to help us build and plant the garden and helpers from the Community Payback scheme for young offenders built picnic benches," added Tina.

"The pupils held a bring and buy toy sale which raised £200, and we also received funding from the Shettleston Area Network and support from local charity With Kids, who helped us paint a mural and create a little quiet space in memory of our much-loved janitor Peter Cunningham, who died a few years ago.

"The end result is really wonderful - the people who look out on to our playground say it looks beautiful and has really brightened up the area."

The Pupil Council are now working with the Parent Council to raise funds for a woodland play area - but the impact of this dedicated bunch of young people reaches far beyond the immediate school grounds.

Rhian Zammit, 11, explained: "We do litter picking in the community to keep the streets and our local park, Tollcross, tidy and clean. Last time we did it we got loads of bags of rubbish and it looked much better when we finished.

"We're doing it because we want everyone to enjoy the park and be proud of it."

Fellow Primary 7 pupil Acacia O'Donnell, 11, added; "We have all put a lot of time and effort into our garden and we hope it inspires other schools to do the same.

"We also have an allotment where we grow flowers and vegetables which is great for everyone."

Rhys Gibson, 7, who is in Primary 4, said: "Sometimes it's hard work digging and weeding, but it's fun. Our sunflowers have grown tall because of all the watering."

Primary 3 pupil Jonah Brooks, 7, added: "I think our playground looks really nice. We did a science project to grow butterflies from caterpillars and put them in the garden, which was brilliant."

Wellshot Primary is now working with GREEN (Green Roots East End Network) to transform an area of wasteland into a wildflower meadow and sensory garden.

"We're trying to encourage the children to respect and take pride in their community, which is what the Evening Times Streets Ahead appeal is all about," added Tina.

"We're really proud of the pupils, who are now taking the message home to their families and friends and spreading it through the community."