News

Leap voted UK Charity of the Year

Monday 15th June 2009

Leap Confronting Conflict picks up top National Awards

Leap Confronting Conflict, a charity which works with young people from bases in London, Yorkshire and Glasgow to help combat gang violence, hostility in schools and community conflict has won one of the most sought after accolades to be awarded in the charity sector at the Charity Awards 2009, the UK charity sector’s most prestigious award scheme which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
The charity beat a local community group from Lancashire, Park View 4 U, and a youth charity from Bradford, The Lighthouse Group, to pick up an award in the Children and youth category before going on to beat all 9 other winners to scoop the top award of the night for Overall excellence in charity management – one of the most prestigious accolades to be awarded in the charity sector. CEO Jenny Rogers collected the coveted trophy at a glittering award ceremony in London last night.

Hosted by Jeremy Vine, the ceremony was attended by an impressive line up of celebrities including Lauren Laverne, John Culshaw, Duncan Bannatyne, Ken Livingstone and Mel Geidroyc, who presented awards in 10 separate categories.

Leap Confronting Conflict was presented with the Children and youth award for its PeerLink project – a youth-led support network for volunteers involved in conflict resolution and peer mediation which offers resources, training and events and by doing so helps reduce violence and fear.

Jenny Rogers, CEO of Leap Confronting Conflict comments:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Children and Youth Award for Leap’s PeerLink project, let alone to have been presented with the overall Charity of the Year Award. Gaining recognition for such a prestigious Award is a real testament to the support that the PeerLink project provides and represents a tremendous achievement for us in our mission to reduce violence and fear in the lives of young people. We believe that with the right support and skills needed, young people are capable of achieving anything they put their mind to.”
Other winners on the night included environmental charity BTCV, The Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Fund, and NOISEfestival.com. Michael Brophy, former chief executive of The Charities Aid Foundation, picked up the Outstanding leadership award.

The annual Charity Awards ceremony is the highest-profile event in the charity calendar. Since launching 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.

Daniel Phelan, organiser of the Charity Awards 2009 comments:
“Over the last ten years many wonderful charities have been recognised by the Charity Awards, showing how much fantastic work takes place within the sector. What the winning charities all have in common is their ability to turn innovation, passion and vision into an effective project or organisation demonstrating considerable impact. It’s vital that we acknowledge these achievements, which is why I’m delighted Leap Confronting Conflict has won the Children and youth award this evening. It is a fantastic organisation and the award is thoroughly deserved. I congratulate everyone involved.”

The Charity Awards programme is organised by Charity Finance, the leading business publication for the voluntary sector.

For more information about Leap Confronting Conflict please contact:
Elly Gilbert, Communications Coordinator on:
020 7561 3718
elly.gilbert@leapconfrontingconflict.org.uk

Notes to Editors:
Leap Confronting Conflict (www.leapconfrontingconflict.org.uk) has a track record of 22 years development of innovative youth programmes that work with young people and youth practitioners to prevent and manage violence and transform challenging and anti-social behaviour. Leap has the explicit vision that conflict resolution skills and understanding should be located within all informal and formal programmes for young people in the UK.