Professionals working with prisoners, ex-prisoners or those sentenced to community punishments in the North East are being given the chance to get recognition for their efforts to reduce re-offending by entering the 2019 Nepacs Ruth Cranfield Awards.
The awards have been running since 2004 and in 2018 were renamed in honour of long standing Nepacs’ patron Ruth Cranfield who had the vision and energy to organise the beginnings of Nepacs in its present day form. Nepacs want to ensure their Awards reward, promote and celebrate that kind of commitment in others working in the difficult climate of today.
Each year the Nepacs Ruth Cranfield Awards recognise north east prison staff, probation/community rehabilitation companies (CRC) staff, voluntary sector and other professionals to highlight the work of exceptional individuals and teams or innovative good practice in promoting rehabilitation of offenders.
Winners last year came from HMP Holme House, HMP Durham, and County Durham Integrated Offender Management Unit staff. Certificate winners came from prisons, probation services, CRCs, local councils and non-statutory organisations right across the region.
Helen Attewell, chief executive of Nepacs, said:
“Many of the people held in our prisons, or who are supervised in the community, have experienced multiple problems in their lives. Many have addictions, have experienced homelessness, suffer poor mental health, or have themselves been victims of violent or sexual crime. These awards pay tribute to those dedicated professionals who work hard to support people to make changes and lead a crime free life.”
This year’s awards and certificates will be presented at an event taking place in September at Lumley Castle in Chester-le-Street.
For details on how to make a nomination visit the Nepacs website www.nepacs.co.uk
The closing date for nominations is Monday 17 June 2019.