The CSJ has unveiled the highly anticipated list of finalists for the prestigious CSJ Awards 2023. Out of a pool of 221 applications, 16 exceptional charities and social enterprises have emerged as finalists, showcasing their remarkable efforts in addressing a range of intractable social challenges. The CSJ visited each of the 16 charities to witness firsthand the transformative impact they are making within their communities and to understand the role that greater policy influence can play in advancing their missions.
Out of the shortlist of 16, there will be four winners of the CSJ Awards 2023, and each will be awarded a prize of £20,000, recognising and supporting their outstanding contributions to social change. The winners will be announced on the 21st of November, marked by a momentous occasion that will celebrate and honour these exceptional charities for their dedication, innovation, and impact on communities across the country.
The 16 finalists for the CSJ Awards 2023:
1. Back on the Map (North East region): Driving local economic regeneration and supporting individuals to move out of poverty.
2. Children Heard & Seen (National, based in South East region): Providing support to children impacted by parental imprisonment to break the cycle of intergenerational offending.
3. Clean Slate Solutions (North East region): Helping adults with past convictions overcome barriers to employment through holistic care and support.
4. Dallaglio Rugby Works (National, based in London): Empowering excluded young people through sport and mentoring to build a brighter future.
5. Family Gateway (North East region): Supporting parents in improving employability skills, education, social inclusion, and well-being to alleviate child poverty.
6. Key Community (North East region): Assisting marginalised young people in identifying and utilising their strengths to transform their lives.
7. Key4Life CIO (National, based in South West. ): Reducing youth reoffending through innovative rehabilitation programs in prisons and communities.
8. Koala North West and the Family Toolbox Alliance (North West region): Delivering tailored support to enhance well-being, reduce isolation, and help children and caregivers thrive.
9. Learning with Parents (National, based in South West): Promoting inclusive parental engagement and closing the education disadvantage gap.
10. One Eighty (South East region): Supporting socially excluded young people to reintegrate into mainstream education.
11. Passion for Learning (North West region): Enriching education, mental well-being, and potential within communities and children.
12. Power2 (National, based in North West region): Improving the well-being and prospects of vulnerable children and young people through early intervention.
13. Recycling Lives (North West region): Encouraging positive change for individuals facing exclusion through training, work placements, and employment opportunities.
14. The Boathouse Youth (North West region): Addressing challenges faced by young people in socio-economically deprived communities.
15. The Oasis Centre Community Project (North West region): Providing activities, education, work clubs, and practical support to strengthen the community and resilience.
16. The Recruitment Junction (North East region): The Recruitment Junction is a recruitment charity that places people with past convictions into sustainable paid work.
The CSJ Awards 2023 finalists represent an inspiring group of charities making a tangible difference in their communities. Their transformative initiatives display the power of compassion, innovation, and community engagement in addressing pressing social challenges. As the winners are unveiled later this year, let us celebrate and honour their outstanding work, which embodies the spirit of positive change and social justice.
We’ll be highlighting more throughout Small Charities Week on our twitter page @CSJF.
