AS we begin the sixth, sensational year of Streets Ahead, the Evening Times is delighted to welcome its partners – old and new – on board.

Here, representatives of our generous backers Glasgow City Council, Scottish Fire and Rescue, City Charitable Trust and City Building, explain why they are proud to be part of the city’s biggest and best community campaign.

GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL – Councillor Frank McAveety, leader of GCC

“The council is delighted to be a partner in Streets Ahead for a sixth year.

“The enthusiasm and motivation shown by everyone involved in Streets Ahead over the past five years has been exceptional. It has brought people of all ages and from different parts of the community together with one shared passion – our city.

Read more: Inspired to get involved in Streets Ahead? Take a leaf out of Thorntree Primary's book...

“Our new Environmental Task Force has been blitzing Glasgow communities - responding to environmental issues reported by the public via new dedicated social media channels – and has already cleared 700 tons of rubbish and removed 12,500sq m of graffiti from across the city since it launched in June.

“The Task Force is a partnership between the people of Glasgow and the council. Streets Ahead will build on that partnership over the coming months and will help us to encourage more people from schools, businesses, and communities across Glasgow to play their part and take pride in our great city.

“We all love Glasgow and by working together we can all make difference.”

SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE - George McGrandles, Area Manager for SFRS

“We are proud supporters of the Streets Ahead campaign and we are delighted to be part of the great work that is being delivered in Glasgow.

“Through partnerships with our communities and the Evening Times we are afforded the opportunity to work with some of the city’s most inspiring and dedicated citizens, committed to making Glasgow a great place.

Read more: Inspired to get involved in Streets Ahead? Take a leaf out of Thorntree Primary's book...

“Streets Ahead is fundamentally about empowering our communities to making a real difference, often helping and supporting those most need and bringing about real change.

“SFRS has 11 community based fire stations across the city and our staff are privileged to work in partnership with our communities to make Glasgow safe.

“Through Streets Ahead we strive to increase community benefits with our private, public and voluntary sector partners and together we hope to keep Glasgow great.”

LORD WILLIE HAUGHEY, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF CITY CHARITABLE TRUST

“THE City Charitable Trust is once again delighted to be working with the Evening Times and our other Streets Ahead partners over the coming 12 months.

“In the first five years we helped scores of individuals and organisations to make a positive difference within their communities. This year we want to do more to help these remarkable and inspirational Glaswegians.

“These people are what makes this city great.

“The founding principle of Streets Ahead was the belief that one person can change the street where they live or work for the better.

“And if every street has one champion we can change the entire city for the better.

“I still firmly believe this is the case and that is why the City Charitable Trust is delighted to help the army of Glaswegians who work so tirelessly and selflessly to improve their communities.

“I hope Streets Ahead continues to help support those who make this city great for many years to come.”

CITY BUILDING - Graham Paterson, executive director of City Building

“The Streets Ahead campaign has already achieved a tremendous amount for Glasgow and it’s been great over the past few years to see people working together in partnership on a huge range of activities to improve the communities they live in.

Read more: Inspired to get involved in Streets Ahead? Take a leaf out of Thorntree Primary's book...

“As one of Scotland’s largest construction companies, we’re committed to making as big a contribution as possible to communities across Glasgow.

“That support ranges from creating new training and employment opportunities for our citizens, particularly those in disadvantaged groups, helping improve Scotland’s environment by reducing waste and saving energy and preserving the city’s heritage for future generations.

“All of us at City Building are really looking forward to getting involved in the campaign which is exactly in line with our own approach of building a sustainable future for our city.”