From forward-thinking businesses to green groups, meet the Streets Ahead winners and runners-up in our business and environmental initiative categories.

GLASGOW CITY GREEN BUSINESS AWARD

WINNER: Locavore

Building sustainable food networks across Glasgow is at the heart of everything Locavore does.

The Govanhill social enterprise sells local, organic and zero waste foods and goods from a shop and café on Victoria Road, delivers veg boxes to more than 1000 households and grows organic food which it supplies to other local cafes and shops.

It has had a huge impact on food poverty in the area.

“Over the last year, we have tripled in size to become an organisation with a turnover of £2.6m which provides Living Wage employment to more than 50 local people,” says founder Reuben Chesters.

“We have created an alternative to conventional supermarkets, allowing more people to buy locally and organically produced food. We have also turned three areas of land into highly productive market gardens and we continue to provide more good food to those in need.”

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RUNNERS-UP

Bike For Good

Well-known city project Bike for Good is a fantastic social enterprise.

It runs a range of initiatives, including Wheelbeing, which works with people who have long-term health conditions; VeloCommunities, which aims to get people travelling by bike in a bid to reduce carbon emissions; and the Bike Academy, a training programme for young people.

Bike for Good has diverted more than 25,000 bikes from landfill, run free cycle training sessions, and supported more than 200 women through its Pedal Pathways project.

Glasgow Wood Recycling

This brilliant project, based in Whiteinch, is on a mission to save wood from landfill and transform it into quality furniture.

It has provided 740 volunteering opportunities and a route to employment for more than 190 people; it has supplied reclaimed wood play equipment to schools and nurseries; and it has set up its own swap shop for the local community.

More than that, it gives its hardworking volunteers a sense of belonging.

Read more: ‘The Pacitti garden has taught me a lot - it is my therapy’

GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE:

WINNER: Urban Roots – Malls Mire Conservation Group

The Malls Mire Conservation Group, run by Urban Roots, has turned an urban woodland into a thriving community hub and Local Nature Reserve.

It has transformed a ‘no go’ area into a lovely woodland and wetland, with improved paths, free community events, outdoor learning and mental health programmes and more.

Growing Connections Project Manager Gemma Jennings says: “Local children benefit from the afterschool club, there is a mental health programme, and people can enjoy this fantastic greenspace in all weathers.

“None of it would have been possible without the hard work of the weekly volunteer group.”

RUNNERS-UP:

TCV’s Mid-Week Group Volunteers

The Conservation Volunteers Glasgow Mid-Week Group helps to transform parks and green spaces across the city.

This year alone, they have planted more than 3000 native trees, litter-picked a large area of Castlemilk Park, created paths, built wooden planters for schools and created insect boxes for many open spaces.

Seeing volunteers working in these spaces has inspired others to join, and the volunteers have improved their skills, confidence and health into the bargain.

Impact Arts: Creative Pathways

The arts workshops running as part of this ground-breaking project have helped young people develop new skills and raise awareness of environmental issues.

As well as creating artwork for local people in Dalmarnock and building an environmentally-friendly pizza oven in Kinning Park, the young people are gaining valuable work experience and bringing communities together as a result.

Friends of Linn Park

Inspired by teenager Michael Sinclair, a junior member of the conservation group, Friends of Linn Park ran a fantastic project to install 60 bird boxes and 20 bat boxes throughout the south side park.

As well as building and installing the boxes, the group held public events to raise funds and worked with local schools, raising environmental awareness and bringing all age groups together.