Beyond Sport Awards 2015 Winners Announced

The work of the world’s most inspiring and impactful sport for social change organisations was celebrated last night as the winners of the Beyond Sport Awards 2015, supported by Comic Relief, were revealed in London.39 projects were shortlisted for the seventh annual Beyond Sport Awards representing 23 sports from over 60 countries. The UK Prime Minister David Cameron set the tone for the proceedings with a video message to the audience stating ‘Day after day it's the stars on the pitch who make the headlines but tonight it is right to stop and pay tribute to you, the stars beyond the field of play, the people who show that by going beyond sport we can use the games we love to tackle some of the greatest social challenges in our world today.’

The Awards presentation kicked off with the Leadership in Sport Award, supported by Mischon de Reya, which was presented to Matthew Spacie for his incredible work with Magic Bus which uses sport-based activities to transform underprivileged children's lives.Beyond Sport Global Partner Barclays awarded A Ganar, a youth workforce development program from the Dominican Republic designed to help break the cycle of poverty, with The Barclays Sport for Employability Award.Corporate of the Year sponsored by Fortune, was awarded to New Balance for their support of GoodGym; the rapidly growing movement of runners doing hands-on good for their local communities.

‍Moving the Goalposts Kilifi deservedly picked up the UNICEF Safeguarding Children in Sport Award for the incredible work they achieve using football to support, empower and educate girls and young women.Sports stars came out in force to recognise the great work being done by organisations off the pitch. Olympic Gold Medallist Mark Hunter presented Waves for Change with the Sport for Health Award for their work using surfing as a form of therapy for children in violent communities. Boxing legend Barry McGuigan awarded Fiji Volleyball Federation with Sport Federation Governing Body of the Year and Women’s Rugby World Cup winners Emily Scarrett and Maggie Alphonsi MBE presented the Sport for Social Inclusion Award to Breaking the Silence Using Football.