Charities Aid Foundation chief executive John Low highlighted the growing profile of civil society organisations in his address to the Charity Awards audience last week.

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude paid tribute to the work carried out by all civil society organisations as he presented the award for overall winner to Mencap at the Charity Awards last night.

A homelessness charity that engages volunteers to help people successfully make the transition from homelessness to independent living, has won the Effectiveness Award at the 2011 Charity Awards.

The Charity Awards is one of the biggest nights in the charity calendar. If you want to know why, just watch the video on the left. And read some of the stories below to see how some of the previous winners have been faring.

View event pictures here;

or find out about 2012's awards by clicking here.