Just before running out the school gates to start their summer holidays, eleven schools across Glasgow were delighted to receive prestigious social enterprise awards — recognising the positive impact made on their communities

With Scotland already viewed as a world leader when it comes to social enterprise, the youngsters proved we’re in safe hands when it comes to the next generation.

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Among the schools who received awards from Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney, at the 12th annual Social Enterprise in Education Awards was St Denis’ Primary in Dennistoun.

The school’s Primary 4 class created Team TALENT — which brilliantly stands for Talk About Love, End Negative Thoughts — as part of the Social Enterprise in Education programme, delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy.

Using their ingenuity and craft to create products that help to raise awareness of mental health and mindfulness, the pupils designed mood jars, stress balls and bookmarks to be sold in their local community.

The class was proud to come up with their enterprise name by recognising that everyone has their own special talent.

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Team TALENT pupil Caleb says: “Our products help boys and girls who are feeling sad or upset. All you have to do to feel better is use our products that we made as a class.”

As a result of their social entrepreneurship, Team TALENT raised over £600 for local charity, With Kids, who offer a range of therapeutic services to children, parents and carers.

At the awards ceremony, the Deputy First Minister said: “These young people have been bringing the Curriculum for Excellence to life in an excellent way, developing essential skills for the future by setting up their own social enterprises and having a positive impact in their schools and communities at the same time.”

With each of the eleven Glasgow schools in attendance at the awards, there was plenty of young social entrepreneurial talent from across the city in the one place.

Across the city, Pirie Park Primary School received an award for their social enterprise Coding Kids, which teaches young people and their parents computer programming through cartoons and computer games. The pupils aimed to help people in the wider community with their employability prospects through teaching them new skills.

Bellahouston Academy won the 2019 Yvonne Strachan Award for Social Justice with The Blazing Squad, a blazer recycling service helping to provide everyone in their school with affordable access to school uniforms.

Pupils at St Paul’s Primary sold water around the school while using the profits to take an active role in caring for homeless people around Glasgow with the help of organisations like the Glasgow City Mission.

An inter-generational social enterprise was created at St Joseph’s Primary School, which included a number of activities including a production of The Steamie and the design of a cookbook combining different cultures and recipes from grandparents.

Abercorn Secondary School provided delicious baked scones to teachers and staff at break time while raising money for homeless social enterprise Social Bite.

At Carmunnock Primary School, a community café was built to help bridge the gap between generations. The pupils invited older people from the local area into the school to have a meal and enjoy some company.

Meanwhile at Hollybrook Academy pupils ran two enterprises - Still Fresh, a soup company, and Brook Café, which delivers catering within the school. Both social enterprises used profits to support Child Bereavement Glasgow.

Glasgow Children’s Hospital and cerebral palsy charity Bobath were supported by Notre Dame Primary pupils through profits made from their Snack Station tuck shop.

There was an international theme at St Albert’s Primary School where their social enterprise hosted visitors from New Zealand, looking to share their learnings with different nations around the world.

And at St Bernard's Primary’s Social Hub, pupils operated a seasonal drinks stall while also providing a space for people to make donations to Glasgow food banks.