BEST CLEAN-UP CAMPAIGN

WINNER – FANS OF BARROWLAND PARK

In the heart of the city lies a little haven of fresh air, green space and tranquillity called Barrowland Park, home to the famous Album Pathway which commemorates all the musicians who have played the nearby Barrowland music venue.

Thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers, who hold regular clean-ups, the park is kept looking beautiful, attracting east end residents, dogwalkers, office workers looking for a peaceful spot to relax during their lunchbreaks, and of course, music fans.

Group members Elaine Docherty, Robert McLeish and Lorraine McLaren are determined to ensure the space, which is earmarked for possible development, is instead preserved for the community for years to come.

“Being part of Streets Ahead is great for us – the campaign is brilliant because it highlights things like this, which mean a lot to local people,” says Lorraine.

“Local people have taken Barrowland Park to their hearts, and that’s about sending a message out that says these kinds of spaces are important to a community’s sense of health and wellbeing; that rather than concreting it over, it could stay for east end residents in what is a really vibrant and busy area of the city.”

COMMENDATION – AHMADIYYA MUSLIM YOUTH SCOTLAND

Where would Yorkhill be without the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth team? These hardworking young people carry out street clean-ups and organise community events, and when the snowstorms hit earlier this year, spent hours clearing the paths and roads.

The group also works hard to raise money for local charities, and every year, brings the whole community together on New Year’s Day for a giant litter pick.

RUNNER-UP – DON’T WASTE WOODLANDS

In the past 12 months, the hardworking volunteers at Don’t Waste Woodlands have held more than a dozen community clean-ups and numerous social events, bringing neighbours together.

By using arts and environmental initiatives to get people interested, the group’s inspirational Greening West Princes Street project is making a huge difference to litter and flytipping in the surrounding streets.

GREEN GLASGOW BUSINESS AWARD

WINNER – COMMON WHEEL

The innovative business Common Wheel supports people with mental illness through three inspirational projects – music, visual arts and cycling.

As well as improving mental wellbeing and supporting people in learning new skills, the bike recycling project has stopped more than 100 bikes from going to landfill and encourages environmentally friendly transport.

And most importantly, Common Wheel reaches out to people who might otherwise feel excluded.

Project manager Emma Razi explains: “Common Wheel’s vision is that people with mental illness in Glasgow are able to live a meaningful and satisfying life and contribute to society.

“The bike project stops bikes going to landfill, encourages environmentally friendly transport and runs a bike shop repairing, servicing and selling bikes – and along with our music and art projects, aims to improve mental wellbeing and support people in learning new skills.”

RUNNER-UP – ECO RUNNERS

Eco Runners is the first and only environmental food delivery company based in Glasgow.

By delivering to customers only by bike, the forward-thinking company aims to reduce pollution and traffic.

Thanks to a simple but extremely effective idea, the team at Eco Runners is making Glasgow a cleaner and greener city.

RUNNER-UP - JAW BREW

Jaw Brew have developed a beer using leftover bread rolls – a fantastic example of the circular economy in action.

The company, which makes a range of craft beers, work with a local bakery, reducing waste and providing a low-alcohol alternative beer for those who care about the environment.

RUNNER-UP – RAGS TO RICHES

Social enterprise Rags to Riches is an upcycling project which turns old textiles and discarded waste products into exciting, high quality products for the whole community.

The Govanhill initiative has recently opened its first retail store, employs local people to manufacture the products and has a bank of 15 tutors who run education events and workshops.

Nadine Gorency explains: “Our project has raised the profile of Govanhill as more green projects and businesses are making the area their base – and as we support other upcyclers, designers and makers, we are helping to inspire and nurture entrepreneurial spirit.”