When were the awards first held?
In 2006, Children Now and Young People Now – the forerunners to CYP Now - launched the Children and Young People Services Awards. That year, there were 23 Awards including categories for best IT system, anti-bullying initiative and positive image of young people. Then children and families minister Beverley Hughes (pictured left) gave the keynote address.
When did they turn into the CYP Now Awards?
Children & Young People Now magazine was born in September 2007, but the Awards remained the Children and Young People Services Awards until 2009. The first CYP Now Awards ceremony was held at London’s Hurlingham Club in November 2009. Compere for the evening was Angellica Bell, presenter on the BBC's The One Show.
London's Hurlingham Club
Which ministers have spoken at the awards ceremony?
In 2009, then Children’s Secretary Ed Balls (pictured left) spoke about lessons from the Baby Peter tragedy ; in 2010, Michael Gove, recently installed Education Secretary in the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government, praised the room for containing “some of the most inspiring, idealistic and impressive people in the country”; while in 2013, then civil society minister Nick Hurd caused a stir when he said it was “ok to lose” some youth services. Other ministers to speak at the awards include former ministers Edward Timpson, Robert Goodwill and Sam Gyimah.
Who else has spoken at the awards?
Graham Allen, former MP for Nottingham North and founder of the Early Intervention Foundation, was keynote speaker in 2011. In 2013, former England footballer Mark Wright spoke about his experiences as a foster carer. The 2015 Awards were hosted by Cerrie Burnell, the children’s author and presenter for BBC children’s channel CBeebies, while in recent years the Awards have been presented by children’s TV entertainer Dave Benson Phillips.
Mental health and wellbeing award winners Comics Youth with Dave Benson Phillips and judge Anna Feuchtwang from the National Children's Bureau in 2019. Picture: Julian Dodd
Which organisations have won awards?
Last year, the coveted Children and Young People’s Charity Award was won by CHEXS for its work to alleviate the negative impact of the pandemic on families. Other organisations to have won that award in the past decade include Comics Youth in 2020, Getaway Girls in 2019, Leap Confronting Conflict in 2017, Mermaids UK in 2016, 42nd Street in 2015 and Redthread in 2013.
Young People's Charity Award winners Getaway Girls. Picture: Julian Dodd
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To find out about this year’s CYP Now Awards including the categories and how to enter go to www.cypnowawards.com/ and to read about last year’s winners and to watch the ceremony go to www.cypnowawards.com/winners-2021
