The Trussell Trust’s chief executive challenged the government to do more to tackle poverty and reduce the growing reliance on foodbanks, when he accepted an award from the minister for civil society last week.

David McAuley had been presented with the overall winner award by Rob Wilson, minister for civil society, at the Charity Awards which are organised by Civil Society Media. McAuley spoke of his frustration with the government over its record on poverty and its refusal to meet with the charity to discuss the rising need for foodbanks across the UK.

McAuley said when accepting the award: “I want to thank you for putting me in front of a government minister. We can’t get in front of government ministers because we are so vocal and we give the people a voice. And we actually put people up to say that this has to stop happening in the fifth most powerful economy in the world.

“We have got to do something to make a difference in the lives of these people. They are not spongers and scroungers and feckless. They are hardworking people. They are people that have fallen on hard times, they are people that just need a little lift to get where they want to go.”

He also said: “When I joined the Trussell Trust we had 13 foodbanks and a vision. And it stems from the centre of Salisbury where we set up our first foodbank, and if they needed a foodbank possibly every town in the UK needs one. Thank goodness we had that vision back in 2000 because a lot of people then went hungry from what has happened in the last 15 years.”

McAuley promised guests and shortlisted charities that he has set himself a challenge to make a difference. He said: “I want to sit down http://pharmacy-no-rx.net/amoxicillin_generic.html round a table and actually challenge government just to do things slightly differently, and give people a chance. The Trussell Trust will continue to speak up. If you want to close foodbanks down, let’s do things differently.

“Let’s create a society that can become more than just wealthy and poor. Let’s create a society that is different, that puts people first – and then we won’t need foodbanks. And then we won’t need the work that goes on.”

He said that the Trussell Trust, which had been the winner in the Social Care and Welfare category, as well as the evening’s overall winner, “has taken risks as an organisation”. He added: “When it wasn’t popular to go with Tesco, we went with Tesco. When it wasn’t popular to sit with Npower and energy companies, we went with Npower. Why? Because they can help us to help people.”

McAuley also thanked the 40,000 volunteers who turn up every week “because without them we couldn’t do what we do”, and the 10,000 churches and thousands of organisations that play host to its foodbanks.

He concluded the charity’s acceptance speech saying: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have the best job in the world. I’m sure all of us say that, but I get to lead wonderful people, I get to see wonderful volunteers, and every single day I get to see the difference they make in the lives of thousands upon thousands of people right across the UK.

“Thank you on behalf of the Trussell Trust, on behalf of my team and on behalf of our trustees. I want to thank you for this award.”

The full list of winners can be seen here.