Gangs project scoops cash award

St Giles Trust's SOS Gangs project, which works with young people caught up in the destructive cycle of gang crime, has won a £10,000 cash award from think tank The Centre for Social Justice.

St Giles Trust learned of the win at an awards ceremony on 1 July. The project was one of seven singled out for a win.

The Centre for Social Justice Awards raise awareness of work tackling social breakdown and poverty. This year's awards attracted nearly 400 nominations, with 13 projects being shortlisted.

Junior Smart, project leader on the SOS Project, said: "I'm thrilled this important project has received this award. Many thanks to the judging panel for recognising its impact and potential. The SOS Project has helped hundreds of young offenders turn their lives around and has reduced crime in some of our most deprived communities. It has the potential to do so much more and I hope we will be able to realise this with the help of this win."