The awards recognise the vital work done by small charities in communities across the UK.
This year's winners are:
• Community Accountancy Self Help: an organisation that provides face-to-face support to 500 community based charities a year
• Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (CRASAC): an organisation that supports around 3,500 local women, men and children who are survivors of sexual abuse
• Nightstop Devon: an organisation which provides emergency housing to vulnerable young people who find themselves in a homeless situation
• The Spirit of Enniskillen Trust: an organisation that supports young people from a range of religious, social and economic backgrounds across NI to take on leadership whether within their families, schools and communities
• UNLOCK: an organisaiton that works to reduce crime by overcoming the social exclusion and discrimination preventing reformed offenders from successfully reintegrating into society and leading crime-free lives
David Brindle, public services editor at the Guardian, said: "We were overwhelmed by the record number of entries, very nearly 1,000, and the sheer brilliance of the work being done by smaller charities every day in communities up and down the UK. When times are hard, it's clearer than ever that these are the people who represent the real glue in our society."
Each winning charity receives £6,000 prize money, a year's free membership to the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, a tailored package from the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI) that includes mentoring, expert advice and training and a media package from the Media Trust.
This year's judging panel included: Jane Asher, president, Arthritis Care, Parkinson's UK and the National Autistic Society; Lynne Berry, associate, Civil Exchange; Pauline Broomhead, founding CEO, The FSI; Caroline Diehl, chief executive, Media Trust; Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive, NCVO; Baroness Valerie Howarth, chair, Children and Families Court and Support Service, chair and president, Livability; Dame Suzi Leather, chair, Charity Commission; Richard Williams, director of enterprise & development, NCVO.
