WHEN GLASGOW Housing Association announced it would invest £50million in communities around the city, Streets Ahead got its biggest boost of the campaign so far.

The Glasgow-wide blitz to bring every neighbourhood up to scratch put people right at the heart of its ambitious plans.

Under the new scheme, residents helped raise environmental standards by grading their communities and agreeing how they can be improved.

Panels, called Local Environmental Action Forums (LEAFs), were set up to encourage everyone to aim for the highest score, the Gold Standard.

And LEAF residents, who will look at issues including the cleanliness of back courts, closes and foyers and the state of grassy areas around homes, became part of our Street Champions network across the city.

Jacqueline Norwood explained: "So far, the response from tenants has been fantastic.

"The Evening Times Streets Ahead campaign has already shown people in Glasgow are willing to work to improve their communities and we plan to build on that and take things one step further."

The Gold Standard programme was not the only Streets Ahead initiative carried out by GHA this year.

The organisation also supported the work of fire crews in Milton, with a £13,500 grant towards rebuilding the vandalised community garden, and in Harhill, where they donated £2000 towards the creation of a beautiful garden on an unused piece of land.

GHA also helped residents all over Glasgow bring a little festive cheer to their communities in December.

From organising neighbourhood events which bring residents together, to sending Christmas hampers to provide a little extra help to families, they summed up the spirit of our campaign – and the season.

At Mansewood Community Centre, for example, residents enjoyed carol-singing, crafts and Christmas stalls while residents of all ages, cultures and backgrounds got together for a special festive fayre at Barmulloch Community Hall.

Glasgow Housing Association's South Area Committee also funded packs full of festive goodies for children across the south side, delivering them to more than 450 tenants in time for Christmas.