Buxton’s Zink charity up for ‘charity oscars’ for groundbreaking work
Buxton based Zink has been shortlisted for a top national honour known as the ‘charity oscars’.
The project has been transforming lives through its innovative employment programme and has been shortlisted for one of the country’s most prestigious social justice awards.
Zink, which supports local people out of poverty and into work - as well as providing holistic support services including a foodbank, eco-café and health activities - has been named as a finalist in the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Awards 2025, often dubbed the ‘Charity Oscars’.
Zink CEO Paul Bohan said: “This nomination is a huge honour for our staff, volunteers and the community that supports us.
“It recognises not just our achievements, but the collective effort of everyone who gives time, funding or encouragement to make Zink’s work possible.”
The nomination recognises Zink’s groundbreaking ‘microjobs’ scheme, which helps long-term unemployed people to gain confidence, skills and experience through small, paid roles within the charity.
Microjobs act as a vital bridge between volunteering and sustained employment - and the results speak for themselves.
Paul said: “Three quarters of people on our microjobs scheme go on to find sustainable paid work.
“That’s an incredible outcome compared to the 30 per cent success rate of the national Restart programme.
“We’re proud to have created an approach that makes a real difference and supports people to turn their lives around.”
Susan, a single mum, explained how the charity had helped her.
She said: “I’ve got four kids and we lived in a flat with no curtains at the windows.
“I’d never had a job, and I cried a lot of the time so my support worker said I would never work.
“But when I started to volunteer at the Zink Food Bank, I started seeing a work coach and after a few sessions she took me out to buy interview clothes.
“I couldn’t believe how smart they made me feel.
“Then my work coach helped me fill out an application form to be a care worker and I got an interview.
“And then I got the job. I’ve built up my hours, I’ve got curtains, and I’ve inspired my two oldest kids to get off benefits and into work and my third child wants to go to college.”
Another service user to benefit from the charities help was David.
He said: “I had nowhere to live after my marriage ended.
“I was homeless and I slept in a barn. I was working as a driver, but I lost that job because I was drinking too much and so I had to use the food bank at Zink.
“It was about two years later that Zink helped me find accommodation and I thought I’d like to stop drinking alcohol.
“I researched addiction.
“That was me.
“I volunteered at the food bank to keep busy and started seeing a work coach.
“I started a microjob as foodbank storage manager at Zink.
“With that help and experience I got a part time maintenance job in a hotel.
“It went really well and now I work there full time which is sad because I have no time to volunteer at Zink.
“I used to see my doctor every week but now he says there is nothing wrong with me.”
The CSJ is an independent think tank founded in 2004 by former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. It exists to tackle the root causes of poverty and social breakdown in the UK — such as family breakdown, addiction, educational failure, debt and worklessness — by developing evidence-based policies that influence government and empower communities. Each year the CSJ scours the country for the very best grassroots charities fighting poverty and other social issues on the front line.
Zink’s inclusion among this year’s nominees highlights the important work being done in Buxton and the High Peak to build stronger futures for local people – as well as inspiring others to set up similar projects.
This is not the first national recognition for the charity; in 2020 it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and the Investors in the Environment Bronze Award in 2023.
Another person whose life has turned around thanks to the work from the award winning charity is Emma.
She said: “My relationship wasn’t good.
“It was abusive. It was violent.
“I had alcohol problems and mental health issues, and my children were taken away.
“I lived in a hostel and sometimes used the Food Bank at Zink.
“But I needed to be busy, so I wanted to volunteer and because I volunteered, I heard about the work coach.
“I thought I would be better in two years, but Zink got me a micro job which was good, so maybe eighteen months to get a job.
“But just a few weeks later I got a real job as a bank worker in the care industry which turned into full time.
“Zink helped me find a flat and supported my application to have my children with me.
“They moved back slowly and now we live as a family again.”
The charity’s pioneering approach has recently been highlighted in Parliament, and the charity continues to develop new ideas to tackle poverty – including offering housing and wellbeing initiatives that support people towards stability and independence.
From just 10 volunteers three years ago to over 130 today, Zink’s community has grown rapidly, showing the strength of local support and belief in its mission.
Zink’s work is funded by a combination of charitable grants and generous donations from local supporters and businesses.
The CSJ Awards ceremony will take place in London on Monday November, 17.
To find out more about the work Zink do visit zink.org.uk