Ansvar Insurance has announced the winners of its annual Community Education Program (CEP) grants for organisations supporting Australian youth.

Recipients include Prison Fellowship, which educates prisoners’ children, Operation Stitches, 20th Man Fund, The Shepherd Centre, Cobram & District Special School, CareSouth, Homework Hub and the Fighting Chance work experience program.

Operation Stitches CEO Patrick Templeton says the grants are essential because government funding has been withdrawn in many community sectors.

Ansvar – which insures the faith, care, community, education and heritage sectors – has contributed more than $10 million to youth groups since launching the program in 1994.

“Government funding continues to tighten each year in terms of charity and non-profit grants,” CEO Warren Hutcheon said. “We believe corporate Australia should help bridge the funding gap in these sectors. This is our opportunity to support organisations within the sectors in which Ansvar does business.”