CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE LAUNCHES SEARCH FOR UK’S BEST POVERTY FIGHTING ORGANISATIONS

The Centre for Social Justice 1 Westminster Palace Gardens Artillery Row London SW1P 1RL Telephone 020 7340 9650 Website www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk Release date: Thursday 6th January 2011 PRESS RELEASE FROM THE CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATE

The Centre for Social Justice, (CSJ) is searching for the country’s best poverty fighting organisations to honour them at their annual charity Oscars in July. The event, organised by the CSJ is attended by celebrities, leading anti-poverty campaigners and senior politicians and highlights the work of grass root charities and voluntary groups who are working to tackle poverty, addiction, educational failure and worklessness. Five charities will be selected by an independent panel of judges to receive a share of £50,000. Previous winners have been involved in working with street gangs, mentoring ex-offenders, rehabilitating and training homeless people, supporting broken families and much more. Last year’s glittering ceremony was hosted by BBC News Presenter Emma Crosby, and award presenters in recent years have included Sir Bob Geldof, Jemima Khan, Dame Kelly Holmes OBE, the Rt. Hon David Cameron MP, the Rt. Hon Frank Field MP and Esther Rantzen. Gavin Poole, Executive Director of the CSJ said, “These amazing organisations are Britain’s poverty-fighting front line. Too often they go unrecognized and unrewarded, and this is an opportunity to redress this imbalance.” The Centre for Social Justice was set up by the Secretary of State for Works and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith to find solutions to the social problems in Britain. Its detailed work and recommendations have been welcomed by all the main political parties. To enter a charity, download an application form from the CSJ’s website (www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk) and return it by no later than Monday 31st January 2011. For more information on the Centre for Social Justice please contact Alistair Thompson of Media Intelligence Partners on 07970 162225 or 0203 008 8145. NOTES TO EDITORS The Centre for Social Justice is an independent think tank established, by Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP in 2004, to seek effective solutions to the poverty that blights parts of Britain. In July 2007 the group published Breakthrough Britain. Ending the Costs of Social Breakdown. The paper presented over 190 policy proposals aimed at ending the growing social divide in Britain. Subsequent reports have put forward proposals for reform of the police, prisons, social housing, the asylum system and family law. Other reports have dealt with street gangs and early intervention to help families with young children. The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP stood down as Chairman of the Centre on his appointment as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in May 2010 and is now the Founder and Patron. Previous winners include: Betel of Britain Nationwide 2006 Addiction treatment Christians Against Poverty Bradford 2006 Debt Kalayaan London 2006 Domestic slavery Langdon Foundation Manchester 2006 Disability Living Well Trust Carlisle 2006 Community work Twelves Company Plymouth 2006 Addiction Birmingham City Council Birmingham 2007 Bob Holman 2007 Community work Bristol Fathers Bristol 2007 Family Breakdown Civitas London 2007 Education God’s Golden Acre, South Africa International 2007 Orphans of HIV/AIDS One North East London London 2007 Addiction treatment Open Door Northeast Newcastle 2007 Refugees and asylum seekers OXPIP Oxford 2007 Parenting and mental health Save the Family Cheshire 2007 Family Breakdown Time for Families 2007 Family Breakdown Aquila Way Newcastle 2008 Homelessness Bethany Christian Trust Edinburgh 2008 Homelessness Eaves London 2008 Housing for vulnerable women Leeds City Council Leeds 2008 Motorvations Essex 2008 Worklessness Prospex London 2008 Community regeneration Romsey Mill Trust Cambridge 2008 Children and family support The Nehemiah Project London 2008 Addiction treatment Blue Sky Development and Regeneration Uxbridge 2009 Unemployment Chance UK London 2009 Mentoring for children Maxie Richards Scotland 2009 Nelson Trust Stroud 2009 Addiction treatment SOS Gangs Project at the St Giles Trust London 2009 Gang intervention and prevention U Too Swindon 2009 Support for young parents Working Rite Edinburgh 2009 Youth and unemployment Young Disciples Birmingham 2009 Youth and community work Caring for Ex-Offenders Nationwide 2010 Mentoring ex-offenders Family Links Nationwide 2010 Family relationship training Frontiers - Adventures in Learning Berkshire 2010 Alternative education IntoUniversity London 2010 Academic support and mentoring MAPS Sutton Surrey 2010 Mentoring for young people The Ley Community Oxford 2010 Drug and alcohol rehabilitation Whitechapel Mission London 2010 Homelessness Noreen Oliver Staffordshire 2010 To apply for the CSJ Awards 2011 or to find out more, visit www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk.

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