TIME is running out if you believe you are a Streets Ahead award winner.
The Evening Times, in partnership with Clean Glasgow, is looking for nominations from indiv- iduals and groups across the city as we prepare to honour the men, women and children who are determined to build a better Glasgow.
And with the deadline for entries May 23, now is the time to get your application in.
We will be awarding eight prizes, including an overall winner to be chosen by the judging panel at a special ceremony in the Winter Gardens on June 14.
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. An overall winner will be chosen from the winners of all the other categories.
Streets Ahead has been helping people in every corner of the city transform their streets, gardens and parks over the past 12 months, with support from our partners Clean Glasgow, City Charitable Trust, Glasgow Housing Association and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.
We have awarded thousands of pounds in grants, including £1000 to Momentum's garden in Bellahouston Park which is run and managed by people recovering from brain injuries.
The charity's psychologist, James Japp, who also manages the community garden project, says: "The Streets Ahead award came as a real boost to Momentum's community garden project which is run by people who attend our brain injury vocational rehabilitation programme in Glasgow.
"With the funds, we were able to replace garden tools which had been stolen and also get new fencing, plants and a shed.
"Thanks to Streets Ahead, we can continue to run the community garden project which is not only giving people horticultural skills, but is helping them rebuild their confidence, improve stamina and increase concentration and memory, which is often affected when someone sustains a brain injury."
Maria Mckay, of Govanhill Nursery, said staff, parents and children had been delighted to receive £1000 in funding from Streets Ahead.
She says: "Being involved with the garden project and seeing us featured in the newspaper created so much excitement and pride for everyone."
"The money helped to pay for small shrubs, plants, top soil and willow, allowing us to create an exciting garden and an oasis where children can play and learn."
Barrie Linning, the driving force behind Garrowhill Garden Estate Community Group received £1000 from Streets Ahead.
"We are absolutely deligh- ted. We have five projects on the go and the Evening Times funding has allowed us to take on another three," he explained.
"So far this year we have had 25 pupils from Garrowhill Primary School planting a small shrub garden at our main project at Barrachnie Cross, and towards the beginning of June we will be planting up the main flowerbed with an Olympics and Diamond Jubilee theme.
"Streets Ahead has been a great success – it has brought communities together and it has brought colour and interest to many areas of the city, which now look clean and cared for."
We also awarded £2000 to help Sighthill residents clean up the local area and create a community garden out of disused allotments.
Sighthill Community Council spokesperson Elaine Mackenzie Ellis, says: "The Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign is a fantastic, positive project!
"Our community had been written off by most people but we fought back.
"It's so important for communities to know someone believes in them and the Evening Times, through its practical support and positive publicity, has helped change perception of Sighthill.
"The grant for our garden is incredibly generous and will go a long way to providing a much-needed community hub, educating local children about the parkland and wildlife we have here in Sighthill, as well as providing a safe, pleasurable spot for tenants to congregate and blether!"
She adds: "That's what is so fantastic about Streets Ahead – it's not just about cleaning up our city, it's about putting the heart back into communities."
n To nominate yourself or someone else, download the entry form from www.eveningtimes.co.uk//go/streetsaheadawards and e-mail it to streetsahead awards@heraldandtimes .co.uk.
Alternatively, call 0141 302 7407 and have the application form sent out or e-mailed to you - it's that simple so don't delay.
'
'