Judges confirmed for CYP Now Awards as entry deadline looms

There is just one week left for entries to be submitted, with 21 categories up for grabs recognising both teams and individuals. Entry is free and straightforward via the CYP Now Awards website at www.cypnawards.com.

The awards are now in their ninth year. They shine a light on innovation and best practice across children’s and young people’s services from throughout the UK.

The judges will meet in the summer. Marks will be allocated by the professional judges, which will produce a shortlist in each category. Young people’s involvement has always been an important part of the CYP Now Awards and this year is no exception.

A panel of young people will judge the shortlisted entries at a later date with their marks added on to those provided by the adult judges to help determine the overall winners.

Children’s minister Edward Timpson has confirmed that he will open this year’s ceremony, which takes place on the evening of Thursday 20th November at the Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, central London.

The judges for the 2014 CYP Now Awards are:

Deborah Absalom, chair, Redbridge Local Safeguarding Children Board

Maggie Atkinson, children’s commissioner for England

Stephen Bediako, director, Project Oracle

Andrew Christie, tri-borough executive director of children’s services in West London

Kathy Evans, chief executive, Children England

Tony Gallagher, HMI national lead (youth strategy), Ofsted

Janet Grauberg, policy and strategy consultant

Dez Holmes, director, Research in Practice

Imran Hussain, head of policy, rights and advocacy, Child Poverty Action Group

Christine Lenehan, director, Council for Disabled Children

Janet Rich, trustee, Care Leavers’ Foundation

Anand Shukla, chief executive, Family and Childcare Trust

Enver Solomon, director of evidence and impact, National Children’s Bureau

Charlie Spencer, divisional manager, targeted youth support, Sandwell Council

Howard Williamson, professor of European youth policy, University of South Wales

Andrea Warman, social care research, policy and development consultant