Child Protection Project Nominated for National Award

A pioneering project in which volunteers provide support to disadvantaged families with children suffering from abuse and neglect, has been nominated for a major national prize at The Charity Awards 2010 - the UK charity sector’s most prestigious awards scheme.  (Issued by the Charity Awards)

The project, run by Community Service Volunteers, is the first of its kind in the UK and was developed as a direct response to the recommendations made by Lord Laming following the death of Victoria Climbie.  Whilst many challenged whether volunteers could or should be involved with families in such complex circumstances, the three year pilot was such a resounding success that projects are now run in five local authority areas across the country supporting over 130 families and 400 children to help turn chaotic, dysfunctional homes into stable and safe environments.

The charity, which has been shortlisted in the Children and youth category, is hoping to pick up the coveted award at a star-studded awards ceremony in London on 10th June hosted by comedienne Jo Brand and attended by celebrities including Greta Scacchi, Lynda Bellingham, Jon Snow and Peter Bowles.  If it wins its category it will also be in the running to pick up the Overall Award for excellence in charity management – a prestigious award given to the best of the 10 category winners.

The annual Charity Awards ceremony, sponsored by the Charities Aid Foundation, The Leadership Trust and The Times, is the most high-profile event in the charity calendar.  Since launching over ten years ago, the awards have honoured hundreds of charities, large and small, from across the UK, acknowledging their outstanding work and achievements and the tireless commitment of the people behind them.  The charities, which submit their own entries, are each shortlisted for specific initiatives which have improved the delivery of their charitable objectives and which demonstrate outstanding examples of best practice from which other charities can learn.

The Charity Awards 2010 is organised by Charity Finance, the leading business publication for the voluntary sector.  The distinguished panel of judges includes John Low CBE, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, Maeve Sherlock OBE, former chief executive of the Refugee Council, Dame Jo Williams, former chief executive of Mencap, Paul Winter, chief executive of The Leadership Trust, and Dame Mary Marsh, founding Director of the Clore Social Leadership Programme and former Chief Executive of the NSPCC.

Daniel Phelan, organiser of the Charity Awards 2010 comments:

“The Charity Awards recognise and reward the fantastic work that takes place within the voluntary sector right across the UK and beyond. It’s so important that we acknowledge the achievements of voluntary organisations because it applauds the people who are least likely to expect any recognition but most likely deserve it.

Over the years, many wonderful charities, large and small, have been recognised by the Charity Awards, highlighting the major and selfless contribution they make to society and the huge effort and commitment that goes into making them work.  By being short-listed, Community Service Volunteers has already demonstrated that it is amongst the best-managed charities in the UK.  I wish everyone involved the best of luck on the night.”