STREETS Ahead is all about putting the heart back into your community.

By rallying friends, colleagues and neighbours, you can help change Glasgow for the better.

One of the biggest ways you can make a difference to people's lives is through volunteering.

A massive 15,000 people volunteered in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games this summer, helping the city sparkle in the spotlight.

As well as helping the best ever Games run smoothly, being part of the volunteer team changed their lives too.

Now, as the fourth year of our successful campaign gets under way, we reveal an exciting new initiative designed to help you volunteer in your community.

Developed by ScotRail, one of our campaign partners, the Reach Out app launches as part of Streets Ahead this week.

"Reach Out is really simple, really easy to use and perfect for anyone looking for volunteering opportunities in their area," explains ScotRail's director for corporate responsibility Pat Callaghan.

"At ScotRail, we want to do more to support and nurture our communities - rather than just ticking a corporate social responsibility box, we believe that doing something which actually benefits our customers and communities alike is important.

"By carrying 86m passengers per year, we can connect with an audience that the volunteer sector may find difficult to engage."

George Thomson, Chief Executive of Volunteer Scotland, says: "We are delighted to partner First ScotRail on the development of this innovative app.

"The 'Reach Out' app will indeed reach out to people who may be interested in but not know how to go about offering their time.

"Volunteering offers fantastic health and wellbeing benefits to those who volunteer and we want to enable everyone to participate in the enjoyment and uplifting experiences that volunteering provides."

The Reach Out app, available for download in the App Store and on Google Play, allows you to search for volunteering opportunities within Scotland on your mobile phone or other devices.

You can search by location or interest group and once you find an opportunity that fits, it only takes a moment to register your interest.

Volunteering does not only benefit the people you are supporting - it can change your own life for the better too.

Glasgow University student Emily Gray has been volunteering within sport since she was at school.

"I helped twice a week as part of a sports leadership scheme with primary schoolkids, doing multi sports, warm-up games and that sort of thing," explains the 22-year-old.

"In free periods in sixth year I would head up to the school playing fields to help with younger pupils' games periods, mainly hockey."

Emily adds: "Being able to pass on knowledge and skills to younger children and allowing them to get some of the enjoyment from sport which I had experienced over the years was the best part!"

After leaving school, Emily went on to play netball for Scotland but her desire to coach remained strong. She now coaches three University of Glasgow netball teams during term time, plus Broomhill netball club's under 14s and under 11s, giving up her weekends to take the girls to tournaments around the country.

"Sport is what I love and I want to share that with others," she says.

"I love volunteering because you get the chance to help people and that's such a good feeling. If someone is struggling to learn a new skill, for example, and then suddenly gets it, it's ace."

Emily would encourage anyone to volunteer.

"It's the best decision you will ever make," she smiles. "It's led to jobs and other opportunities for me. I have my coaching Level 2 certificates to show for it too. But the most worthwhile part is the high-fives from the kids, and the smiles on their faces.

"You never leave a volunteering session regretting giving up the time - it's so rewarding."

HOW TO GET INVOLVED...

STREETS Ahead is back to support community projects all over Glasgow - and we want you to get involved.

With the support of our partners, Clean Glasgow, City Charitable Trust, Glasgow Housing Association, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and ScotRail, we want to help you improve your street, park, play area, school or railway station for the benefit of the whole community.

Get in touch by emailing streets ahead@heraldandtimes.co.uk or call 0141 302 6555 to tell us what you think needs done in your area, or let us know what's already under way and how we can help you to make it better.

Grants are available - let us know how much you need and what you need it for.

Get involved - and change your community for the better.

You can find out more about our campaign on our website www.eveningtimes.co.uk