There is £10,000 up for grabs in the CSJ awards for outstanding voluntary organisations
Think tank The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) has opened applications for its 2018 awards today.
The group was established in 2004 to put an emphasis on social justice in policy making and to focus on tackling the root causes of poverty.
CSJ award winners will receive £10,000 and be presented with their awards at a Westminster event in March 2018 alongside celebrities, politicians, philanthropists and journalists.
In the past awards have been presented by big names such as Davina McCall, David Cameron, Sir Bob Geldof, Dame Kelly Holmes and Alastair Campbell.
The CSJ awards reward the work of voluntary organisations across the UK who help people to turn their lives around as well as implementing innovative ways of addressing and preventing the causes of poverty.
There are five awards categories this year: social resilience (for charities tackling addiction and debt); responsible business; education, employment and skills; family and social enterprise.
The Responsible Business Award is a new additional award for small or medium-sized businesses which are running outstanding philanthropic initiatives.
Andy Cook, chief executive of the CSJ, commented: “This is an exciting opportunity for charities to get the recognition they deserve for the amazing work they do.
“The categories we have selected are based around the five pathways to poverty we identified in our landmark Breakthrough Britain report: family breakdown, poor educational attainment, worklessness, drug and alcohol addiction and serious personal debt.
“We are looking for charities who make a huge difference in their communities, whether it be an organisation supporting the families of prisoners and working towards their successful rehabilitation or helping children with learning difficulties to catch up with their peers at school.
“As well as the award ceremony, winners and runners up will be invited to join the Centre for Social Justice Alliance, a network of poverty-fighting organisations that contribute to the policy work of the CSJ, and to which the CSJ offers signposting to enabling organisations.
“We urge everyone who knows a charity that deserves its moment in the spotlight to nominate it for a CSJ award.”
Online applications will be open until 5pm on Friday, 13 October on the CSJ website.
