The organisation's stated aim is to "put social justice at the heart of British politics".[4] While the think-tank states it is politically independent, it was labelled one of the most influential on the British Conservative Party under the leadership of David Cameron.[5]
Policy programmes and impact
One of the CSJ's most notable reports was Breakthrough Britain.[6] It has also produced well-publicised reports on gang culture,[7] modern slavery,[8] addiction,[9] family breakdown,[10] and educational failure.[11] In 2012 the CSJ announced that it would carry out the study Breakthrough Britain II.[12] The CSJ has also played important roles in the design and development of Universal Credit and in championing the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
2019
A report called on the government to increase the state pension age to 75.[13]
2018
A Woman-Centred Approach called on the government to scrap plans for up to five new women's prisons and to put funds towards community-based alternatives. The Ministry of Justice subsequently announced that plans for new women's prisons were being abandoned and set out proposals to pilot five residential centres for women in the community.[14]
2017
Housing First recommended placing homeless people dealing with problems such as alcohol and drug abuse in permanent accommodation and giving them access to care and training. The approach, known as Housing First, had been tried out in the United States and adopted by Finland with positive results. Conservative Communities Secretary Sajid Javid had said that he was keen to examine the scheme.[15] While the CSJ called for a nationwide roll-out of Housing First, the Government announced and allocated £28m funding for a number of Housing First pilot sites in the West Midlands, Liverpool and Manchester.[16]
Growing the Local called on the government to give Police and Crime Commissioners additional flexibility to increase the police precept, a set of proposals subsequently adopted and providing additional resources for policing and crime.[17]
Initially, the CSJ operated on a project-based model in which both projects and staff changed frequently. Under chief executive Andy Cook, the organisation has established permanent policy units, each led by a designated head.
The CSJ coordinates an alliance of charities that address poverty and hosts the annual Centre for Social Justice Awards, which recognise voluntary and non-profit organisations throughout the United Kingdom. It also stages events at the main UK political party conferences.
David Blunkett MP, co-chairman of the CSJ Advisory Council
Johan Eliasch, chairman and chief exec, Head N.V; Chairman, Cool Earth; Prime Minister's Special representative on deforestation and clean energy
Frank Field MP, Member of Parliament for Birkenhead (Independent)
William Hague MP, former foreign secretary, former leader of the Conservative Party, former member of parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire (Conservative)
Syed Kamall MEP, co-founder of Global Business Research institute, MEP for London (Conservative)
Paul Marshall, chairman of management committee of Centre Forum; Adviser to Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP, deputy prime minister and leader of the Liberal Democrats
Kevin Tebbit, former director of GCHQ and former permanent under secretary of the Ministry of Defence
In September 2023, the funding transparency website Who Funds You? gave the CSJ an D grade, the second-lowest transparency rating (rating goes from A to E).[19]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
