Winner of the 2021 Charity Awards in the Campaigning and Advocacy Category
We are honoured to win the 2021 Charity Awards on June 10th. In their words:
Charity Awards judge Chris Sherwood said Safe Passage was “very impressive”, and praised its focus on youth advocacy and local campaigning. He also conceded that the politically sensitive nature of the cause meant that its activity was unlikely to be successful all the time.
“We win some and we lose some, that’s the nature of what charities do,” he said. “It can be tough, but you dust yourself off and you get back in the game, and keep pushing on – which is what Safe Passage are doing.”
Thank you to all our campaigners and supporters for helping us win this award. You can see the full summary of the charity awards website here - https://charityawards.co.uk/campaigning-and-advocacy-2021-winners-safe-passage/
2018 European Economic & Social committee civil society prize
We were among the winners for the 2018 Civil Society Prize, which celebrates European identities, values and cultural heritage as a way of uniting Europe.
Our Legal team, Darby O’Donnell and Natalie Marsden, collected the award in Brussels.
Our cultural campaign "Our Turn” which sought to commemorate the achievements of the Kindertransport 80 years on, an operation that allowed the safe passage of 10,000 child refugees who were escaping Nazi Germany on the eve of World War Two.
The campaign drew parallels between the current situation for refugees in Europe and the Kindertransport. By sharing the stories of both Kindertransport survivors and today's youngest refugees through cultural activities organised around the country, making the case for Britain to welcome more refugee children in the present. Asking for a pledge from Government to give refuge to 10,000 at-risk child refugees from the region and Europe.
Watch our interview with the European Economic & Social Committee President about the campaign.
Ockenden international prize 2018
We were honoured to win the 2018 Ockenden International Prize, which recognises innovative work in the field of refugees. The judges said:
“It is an important initiative in a politically-resistant, post-Brexit referendum environment”. A ‘just do it’ attitude, using legal means, practical advocacy and mentorship to unite child refugees with their families in Europe and help with resettlement was also highlighted.
Sheila McKechnie Awards 2017
We were given the Social Justice Campaigner award at the Sheila McKechnie Awards in 2017.
2016 European Citizens’ Prize
In July 2016, we were honoured to win the 2016 European Citizens’ Prize. On behalf of the CUK, Safe Passage’s Senior Field Manager was presented the award by MEP Jean Lambert, who had this to say:
“Citizens UK‘s Safe Passage programme is inspirational – its work is making a real difference. I nominated Citizens UK especially for its work over the past year in the refugee camps in Calais. It has played a vital role in identifying vulnerable people there, specifically unaccompanied minors who have family in the UK, and therefore a right to be reunited with them.
“I commend Citizens UK, and other organisations and ordinary people, who are trying in small ways they can to help people who have been forced to flee their homes. This is what international solidarity really looks like.”
The 2016 Liberty Human Rights Awards
In 2016, Safe Passage won the Jo Cox ‘More in Common’ Award at the Liberty Human Rights Awards.
The Liberty Human Rights Awards are held to honour dedicated people by shining a light on their crucial work and celebrating their remarkable achievements. They give voice to stories that may otherwise go unheard and celebrate the hard work, inspiration and dedication of those who champion the rights of ordinary people. The death of the MP for Batley & Spen, Jo Cox devastated all those who knew her and shared in her compassion and values, which have inspired thousands of people in a message of equality, unity and hope.
Safe Passage was awarded the new Jo Cox ‘More in Common Award’ having achieved a landmark case of its kind by bringing the first four vulnerable refugees from the Calais ‘jungle’ to the UK to be reunited with family members in January 2016. Since then, hundreds of unaccompanied minors have been identified and brought safely and legally to the UK, using Article 8 – the right to a private and family life – of the European convention on Human Rights. Since the demolition of the camp at Calais, Safe Passage has continued its work to bring many more vulnerable minors to safety.
George Gabriel, our Lead Organiser, said:
“The Safe Passage team has worked tirelessly to achieve the seemingly unthinkable and we are all enormously grateful for this award in Jo’s name, which recognises the same dedication to bringing people and communities together that Jo so greatly valued.”