Schoolchildren in Glasgow got a massive boost this week after healthy eating was put firmly on the menu.

Maryhill Housing and contractor ENGIE came together to deliver the £2500 windfall to St Cuthbert’s Primary and Highpark Primary.

Both are thriving schools in Glasgow’s Ruchill and share the Benview Campus in the community.

Now as part of its commitment to helping communities, ENGIE’s regeneration business (formerly Keepmoat Regeneration) has donated the money along with a further £2500 to community organisation North United Communities.

The money totalling £5000 came about after ENGIE began working for Maryhill Housing - undertaking improvement work to the Association’s housing stock.

As part of the contract there was a requirement for ENGIE to deliver ‘community benefits’.

Both schools were chosen as worthy recipients and plans are already being drawn up to use the money to encourage healthy eating among families and convey the importance of nourishing meals to ensure good health.

Highpark headteacher Mrs O’Donovan and St Cuthbert’s headteacher Mrs Tracey are working on a plan to make this happen.

Mrs O’Donovan said: “This is a wonderful donation which will provide essential funding to allow us to promote healthy eating.”

Mrs Tracey added: “We are excited about what we will be able to do with this donation. We are immensely grateful because it will go a long way to helping our children.”

Ruth Adam, community regeneration manager at Maryhill Housing, said: “Both schools are worthy recipients of this money. The Association is deeply engaged in helping the communities we serve and working together with ENGIE we have been able to do something of real value to both schools.”

North United Communities undertakes a vast amount of community activities all designed to improve people’s lives in a wide area of north Glasgow. Jill Mackay of North United Communities said the organisation was “delighted” to receive the money.

Their £2500 donation will again be used to benefit the community – particularly in the area of ‘Job Clubs’ and helping people to pick up digital skills.

ENGIE’s divisional head of business development, Stevie Nugent, and colleague Emma McWilliams came to the schools to announce the donation.

Stevie said: “Our business model is centred on building and transforming communities and this goes far beyond the delivery of new, or improvement of existing, housing stock so we’re thrilled to be working with Maryhill Housing to make a real difference. We have always worked closely with local schools and this is a fantastic initiative, which will drive positive change for children in the community.”