Base 33 gains recognition at Westminster

BASE 33 WINS SPECIAL MP RECOGNITION AT HOUSE OF COMMONS AWARD CEREMONY

DAVID CAMERON NOMINATES BASE 33 FOR AWARD

Base 33 last week received a special award following a nomination from David Cameron at a prestigious reception at the House of Commons in London.

Base 33 Team Wins Kids Count Award

Representatives from Base 33 joined leading politicians and sporting celebrities including Olympic Gold Medalist Linford Christie on the Terrace at the House of Commons for the third annual Kids Count Inspiration Awards.

The Kids Count Inspiration Awards recognises those individuals, young and old, and organisations that have been responsible for inspiring young people in their communities. A record number of nominations were received this year for individuals and groups who are addressing issues that affect the lives of children by creating initiatives that are grounded in practicality and realism, make a positive difference, and afford greater freedom to young people to determine their own futures.

“Its aim is to steer disengaged young people who are experiencing chaotic lives, onto a path to a more active and positive lifestyle. Base 33 plays an important role in the community and offers hope and support to young people who have lost their way.” David Cameron – nominating Base 33

Once the winners were announced, David Cameron MP said, “Congratulations to Base 33 in my constituency for winning the Kids Count Inspiration Award. Base 33 is a wonderful organisation for young people in Witney and the surrounding area. Their work has a wide remit, including helping teenagers who are facing exclusion from school to finish their GCSEs, supporting those facing homelessness and simply being there for eight-to 13-year-olds whose siblings have been convicted of crimes. I know how dedicated the staff are to their work and equally how much they are valued by the local community. This award truly is well-deserved.”

Linford Christie said: “It’s an honour to be part of such a great initiative. All of the winners this evening are champions in their own right and Base 33 is an inspiration to others, both young and old.”

Kids Count Chairman, Richard Stephenson, said: “David’s nomination struck a chord with members of the judging panel who could see the value of the inspirational work that they do. We have no doubt that those who have experienced the work of Base 33first hand will understand why Base 33 won this special Award.”

Stephenson added, “The courage, conviction and confidence that is displayed by young people and those who work with them, across the United Kingdom is often truly extraordinary but frequently overlooked. I am very proud to be part of an organisation that not only brings young people to the heart of decision making in Westminster, but that also aims to recognise their contribution to society through these Inspiration Awards

About Kids Count

Kids Count was founded in response to the growing problems faced by children and young people, along with the failure of existing organisations to find suitable solutions to these issues.

Kids Count is a grass-roots Think-Tank aiming to find practical solutions to the broad spectrum of issues that affect children and young people in urban and rural communities.

Kids Count is a National organisation looking to bridge the gap between intellectual and practical solutions. Our objective is to be the foremost authority on successful local projects that provide national solutions to a wide range of problem issues for children and young people. We will achieve this goal, not by following any particular ideology, but by networking, searching out existing, successful, practical solutions, all over the country and refining them where necessary (with the help of experts in the relevant fields) and sharing of good practice. Once the solutions have been found, we will promote them in a national forum and lobby parliament for their use across the country.

Kids Count is not affiliated to any political party or charitable bodies, but has links with various organisations and works with all sections of society.

Kids Count believes that young people should be involved in the solution finding process. Therefore, as part of our organisational structure we have a Youth Board made up of young people drawn from all walks of life, many of whom have been recommended to us by our network of contacts & organisations. We will also work with these networks to reach as many young people as possible. One of our aims is to have a website that is attractive to, and can be accessed by, young people all over the country.

Kids Count aim is to put children and young people at the heart of policy and of the family.