Last night the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) held our annual Awards ceremony, an evening celebrating the inspiring work that small charities and social enterprises do around the UK. Awards were presented to six charities tackling the root causes of poverty in their communities.

The ceremony was hosted by adventurer and broadcaster Ben Fogle, with the keynote speech delivered by CSJ Founder and Patron, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP. Over 500 people attended, including high profile politicians, business leaders, journalists and charity heads all helping the CSJ celebrate the work of these inspiring organisations.

Last night the CSJ presented awards to:

Drive Forward a small charity based in central London that helps young care leavers gain and stay in employment. Young care leavers receive help with their CVs, interview techniques and one-to-one mentoring. www.driveforwardfoundation.com

Forward Assist provides support and guidance to former servicemen and women who are struggling with the transition to civilian life. It helps veterans to become full and active members of their local communities, following a life in the armed forces. www.forward-assist.com

North and South London Cares tackles the problem of isolation and loneliness in the old and young. They help to create communities where young neighbours meet their older neighbours either at home or during one of their regular social events. www.northlondoncares.org.uk

Scene & Heard are a mentoring charity who pair young children from one of the most deprived areas in London with volunteer theatre professionals. Through supportive, one-to-one script writing and acting training, they are helped to perform on stage. This experience helps to improve communication and social skills.
www.sceneandheard.org

St Petrock’s is an Exeter based charity that is helping to transform the lives of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by supporting them in finding accommodation. St Petrock’s also helps homeless people access health and welfare services. www.stpetrocks.org.uk

Yeovil4Family helps to prevent family breakdown in Yeovil through one-to-one support in the family home, helping families find solutions to personal issues affecting family life. Their specialist programme enables their team to support families in a safe environment for the families and their volunteers.
www.yeovilcommunitychurch.co.uk/serving/yeovil4family

Thank you to everyone who made The CSJ Awards 2015 possible and to The Huffington Post UK for being this year’s media partner.

In particular, thank you to our sponsors Deutsche Bank's Born To Be Programme, Legg Mason, Live Twice, Local Giving, Marsh UK, M&G Investments, The Porters’ Trust, and Scope.