CSJ Director Christian Guy was invited to introduce David Cameron’s key note speech on opportunity in Runcorn.

The Prime Minister was speaking on plans to help working families and extend opportunities to all.

In his introduction Christian Guy praised the Prime Minister for pledging to govern with compassion and wanting to create true social justice.

He said: “Partnering with those on the front line fighting disadvantage we help political leaders give people all they need to stand on their own feet, and to have a better hope.

“That's why we were proud to work with the last Government - whether in pushing for more work not more welfare, help for troubled families, a better future for children in care, freedom for those in modern slavery or rehabilitation for prisoners and addicts.

“And that's why it's an honour to be here with you all today and to work with the new administration.”

David Cameron spoke about the need for everyone in the country to have the opportunity to be able to make a good life for themselves.

He spoke about the need to tackle the root causes of poverty, not just the symptoms, which the CSJ has put at the heart of its message.

These, he said, are family breakdown, debt, addiction, poor schools, lack of skills and unemployment

The Prime Minister also advocated a higher minimum wage, supporting parents with relationship support, and making work pay through Universal Credit, all of which the CSJ recommended.

Christian Guy appeared on Sky News to discuss the speech while the CSJ’s Samantha Callan  appeared on the Today Programme as well as the BBC News channel.

A major new report by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) warns that levels of household debt have soared to record highs and 8.8 million people are now over-indebted due to more than two years of increasing household debt.

Household debt has soared by more than £34 billion in less than three years, exceeding UK national debt in all but three months.

Low-income households face the biggest challenges from Britain’s mounting personal debt, as they often have little choice but to take on high-cost short-term credit.

The report says that a radical new vision and approach to tackling debt for the poorest households is needed. The groundbreaking research, commissioned by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, says low income consumers and those struggling with problem debt should have financial services and products designed around their wants and needs – not in a way which robs people of personal responsibility.

The report was covered in The Independent, The Daily Mail, The Herald, the Scotsman and the Sun. It was also praised by Left Foot Forward.

The Government has pushed forward legislation, recommended by the CSJ which will ban the sale of so-called ‘legal highs’.

Following the announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Government will ban New Psychoactive Substances, or so-called ‘legal highs’, The Psychoactive Substances Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 28 May 2015 and has now gone through its second reading in the House of Lords.

The CSJ called for a ban on ‘legal highs’ similar to the scheme used in Ireland which effectively removed the threat of head shops that sell ‘legal highs’ on the high street.

It has resulted in fewer hospital admissions of young people ingesting ‘legal highs’.

The CSJ’s senior researcher Rupert Oldham Reid spoke about the ban on BBC Radio 4’s Week in Westminster. He also appeared on Channel 5 News. His article on why the ban is important was featured on Conservative Home.

The CSJ Awards 2015 invited a record number of applicants from voluntary organisations and charities who are changing lives and tackling poverty in their communities.

Cash prizes of £10,000 are awarded to charities, small voluntary groups and other local projects that display innovation and effectiveness in addressing the root causes of poverty, turning lives around and reversing social breakdown.

This year the Awards Ceremony will be held on 24 November 2015 at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London.

All short listed charities will be notified by Friday 26 June 2015.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor will give a keynote speech at the Centre for Social Justice titled ‘Is there justice for the vulnerable?’

Sir Thomas will speak on the police’s responsibility to protect the public, especially the most vulnerable. He will assess how successful the police are in ensuring the safety of vulnerable people, and how effectively the police act when that safety has already been compromised.

The event will also be the launch for new, ground-breaking HMIC inspection findings on child protection and child sexual exploitation. The reports set out detailed analysis of police successes and failures at protecting the most vulnerable people in society.

Between October 2010 and March 2012, Sir Thomas carried out a review of the pay and conditions of service of police officers and police staff in England and Wales. The review was carried out at the request of the Home Secretary and was the most comprehensive for more than 30 years.

The speech will be held on Wednesday July 1st. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to criminaljustice@centreforsocialjustice.org.uk

Associate Director for Families and Mental Health Dr Samantha Callan was interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s File on 4 about the CSJ’s research which found that nearly a quarter of teenage girls in care become teenage mothers.

Dr Callan also wrote for Conservative Home on the importance of promoting family structure in Government policy. She also spoke to the Sunday Times about women waiting until later life to have children.

The CSJ’s report on modern slavery, A Modern Response to Modern Slavery, was also featured in the Daily Mail in an article warning that Eastern European crime gangs are operating in Britain 'with impunity' because of EU free movement rules.

CSJ Director Christian Guy wrote a six-point plan for helping families on Conservative Home.

Christian also wrote an article on why the housing sector needs to be better at influencing decision - makers in Inside Housing.

CSJ Deputy Policy Director Ed Boyd appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss research undertaken by the CSJ on the regeneration of seaside town Margate in Kent.