Centre for Social Justice

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) is an independent[1] centre-right[2] think tank based in the United Kingdom, co-founded in 2004 by Iain Duncan Smith, Tim Montgomerie, Mark Florman and Philippa Stroud.[3]

Centre for Social Justice
Formation2004 (2004)
TypeThink tank
Legal statusCompany limited by guarantee (non-profit)
Location
  • London, United Kingdom
Chief Executive
Andy Cook
Budget
Approximately £1.6m
Staff
24
Websitewww.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk

Political positions

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 has been 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]
  • Lowering the Stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals called on the government to reduce the stake from £100 to £2 for fixed odds betting terminals, which the government duly did in 2018.[18]

Structure and operation

Initially the CSJ's work was project-based with projects and staff members changing regularly. Recently, however, under Andy Cook, the latest Chief Executive, the CSJ has created a number of dedicated policy units with specific unit heads to lead on their designated area.

Policy Unit structure[19]
Policy area Unit head
Education James Scales
Work and Welfare Patrick Spencer
Addiction and Criminal Justice Adrian Crossley
Family Cristina Odone
Modern Slavery Tatiana Gren-Jardan
Financial Inclusion Joe Shalam

The CSJ also has an alliance of "front line poverty fighting charities" and runs an annual Centre for Social Justice Awards ceremony celebrating some of the best voluntary and non-profit organisations in the UK. In addition the CSJ regularly holds events at the major political party conferences.

Notable members

Past and present:

Funding

In November 2022, the funding transparency website Who Funds You? gave the CSJ an E grade, the lowest transparency rating (rating goes from A to E). [20]

See also

References
  1. "List of thinktanks in the UK". The Guardian. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  2. Justice, The Centre for Social. "Iain Duncan Smith bids to rescue state school sport - The Centre for Social Justice". The Centre for Social Justice. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  3. "Philippa Stroud: I worked with IDS for five years. Now I'm back at the CSJ". Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  4. Iain Duncan Smith. "The CSJ Story". The Centre for Social Justice.
  5. "Centre for Social Justice and Policy Exchange are best regarded think tanks by ConservativeHome's 'influentials panel'". Conservative Home. 1 April 2010.
  6. "Breakthrough Britain, Tory recommendations". The Telegraph. 10 July 2007.
  7. politicshome: "CSJ backs gangs plan and calls for 'relentless effort' to make streets safe" 1 Nov 2011 Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Buchanan, Michael (10 March 2013). "UK anti-trafficking efforts need overhaul, report says". BBC News.
  9. "UK is 'addictions capital of Europe'". BBC News. 1 September 2013.
  10. "Million Children Live In Fatherless Households". Sky News. 10 June 2013.
  11. Adam Withnall (3 September 2013). "'Education underclass' of children in the UK is still in nappies when they start school". The Independent.
  12. "Breakthrough Britain II Overview". Centre for Social Justice. Archived from the original on 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  13. "Pension age should rise to 75, Tory think tank report says". Independent.co.uk. 18 August 2019.
  14. "Female Offender Strategy". GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  15. Helm, Toby (11 March 2017). "Government considering plans to house addicts who sleep rough". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  16. "Government announces £28m funding for Housing First pilots". Inside Housing. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  17. "Police to get 'extra £450m funding'". BBC News. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  18. Davies, Rob (17 May 2018). "Maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals cut to £2". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  19. Justice, The Centre for Social. "CSJ Staff Archive - The Centre for Social Justice". The Centre for Social Justice. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  20. "Who Funds You? Centre for Social Justice".
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