Hull Churches Home From Home Hospital Service
Winner of the Community Excellence Award in 2007, this free service, provided by 92 volunteers, is given to those returning home from hospital.   The service includes 6-8 weeks of support consisting of 2-3 visits per week to undertake shopping, listening, changing anti-embolism stockings, assistive technology and anything required to support a healthy recovery and return to independence.  A total of 1469 older clients were assisted to independence through convalescence in the past year. Visit their webiste at www.hchfh.org.uk 

St Michaels Youth Project, Hull
St Michaels Youth Project was the commended project in the Improving the Lives of Children and Young People Award in 2007. They provide a safe place for young people to meet and access a wide ranging programme of positive activities, support in education, learning and skills development. The project has been operating for 18 years in one of the most disadvantaged communities in Hull and is rooted within the work of a local church. 

Their improved outcomes range from increased self-esteem, improved educational achievement, reduction in obesity levels, more participation in the community and supporting access to employment. 

GoldDigger Trust, Sheffield
Shortlisted for the Improving the Lives of Children and Young People's award in 2007, GoldDigger has been operating for just two years working with vulnerable girls at risk of teenage pregnancy due to low self esteem. Their creative arts team use music and dance to promote a healthy lifestyle and greater self esteem in young people.  They have written and run a course for teenage girls called ‘I’m the Girl I Want to Be’ tackling self worth issues. For more information go to www.golddigger.org.uk 

The Terminus Initiative, Lowedges, Sheffield
Shortlisted for the Community Excellence Award in 2007 and 2006, this community hub, includes a low priced community café selling second hand clothes and goods, a youth café, a drop-in centre for elderly people as well as a befriending scheme for Asylum seekers and refugees. They also offer opportunities for volunteering.

Halifax Street Angels
The Halifax Street Angels project was shortlisted for the Community Excellence Award in 2007. This team of mainly Christian volunteers provides a safe presence in Halifax town centre between 9pm and 3am every Friday and Saturday night.  The team responds to the needs of vulnerable people ensuring that the elderly, those underage, those who have drunk too much or had their drinks spiked get home safely.  The project works closely with the council, nightlife businesses and the police who have reported a 42% reduction in violent crimes since the Street Angels launched in 2005. www.streetangels.org.uk

In July 2008 Halifax Street Angels were awarded a Tilley Award by the Government Office for Yorkshire & the Humber for the hard work that they do to reduce crime in Halifax town centre. To read more about this award click here

Olive Branch Trust, Bradford
Set up 25 years ago as a small drop in the Trust now runs a large youth project, work with the elderly and a very successful day programme, The Caleb Project, for people battling an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Olive Branch was featured in "Faith works in..." to read the article and find out more about the work of the trust click here.

Christ Church Community Services, Bridlington, East Yorkshire
As the Kingdom of God makes a real difference at every level of society bringing good news to the poor, healing the broken hearted and setting captives free, Christ Church is bringing the Kingdom to Bridlington. Click here to visit their website.

Meganursery, Sheffield
Providing childcare in inner Sheffield whilst offering a family service to tackle issues such as breakdowns, poor health, low educational attainment and substance misuse.

The Thornbury Centre, Bradford
Thornbury is a suburb of Bradford which suffers from high levels of poverty, lack of community and rising crime fuelled by drug abuse, which is endemic. Out of this climate came a church that decided not to meet in a traditional building but rather to develop a centre designed to serve the community. Visit their website at www.thornburycentre.com

Wetherby Young Offenders Institution
An initiative of the YMCA, the Wetherby Young Offenders Institution project aims to befriend sentenced and unsentenced young people in order to develop trusting relationships with them, provide postivie role models and facilitate their reintegration into their home communities, thus enabling them to become positive citizens.

The Lighthouse Project, Hull
Operating from a refitted bus on the streets of Kingston-upon-Hull, the Lighthouse Project reaches out to women working in prositution. Offering friendship, warm drinks, condoms and, when requested, prayer, the team of staff and volunteers have slowly build up relationships of trust with the women they serve. The bus has a comfy seating area, kitchen and counselling room. Find out more about the Lighthouse Project by visiting www.community-house.co.uk/community/lighthouse