The judging panel, chaired by David Goodhart, editor of the respected centre-left monthly magazine, cited two reasons in particular for its decision: the impressive number of policies adopted by government (18 by Labour and 67 by the Conservatives, to date), and the two standing ovations during David Cameron’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference earlier this month, received in direct response to the work and influence of the CSJ on the subject of poverty. The CSJ’s Alliance of Charities was also mentioned by the Rt Hon. David Willetts MP as leading example of how think tanks are increasingly becoming ‘do tanks’.

The top prize, presented by Mr Willetts, was jointly awarded to both the CSJ and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, whose Director Robert Chote was there to receive the award. Demos was recognised as ‘the one to watch’ over 2009. CentreForum’s A Balancing Act was awarded best publication, ippr won the award for work on environment and RUSI for foreign policy thinking. The awards were sponsored by Shell, represented by the aptly named Jeremy Bentham.

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP, Chairman of the CSJ, said, “I am extremely grateful to the experienced panel of judges and to Prospect for honouring the Centre for Social Justice with this award. The award is recognition of the hard work that has been put in by everyone who has participated on one of our commissions, our staff and our supporters.

“The Centre for Social Justice is pioneering solutions to the problems associated with breakdown Britain, but we could not do this were it not for the hard work of thousands of organisations and volunteers who make a real difference to their communities every single day by helping to fight the five pathways to poverty, family breakdown, economic dependency and worklessness, educational failure, addiction and personal indebtedness.”

Philippa Stroud Director of the Centre for Social Justice added, “The CSJ exists to put social justice at the heart of British politics. We’re incredibly proud to receive this award in recognition of our work to fight poverty in our most disadvantaged communities. We look forward to the day when our policies are transforming lives on the streets.”