Pioneering Quaker project wins community award

14 Mar 2007

A pioneering community project set up by Quakers to help monitor and rehabilitate sex offenders on their release from prison has won its fourth award.

The Hampshire and Thames Valley Circles of Support and Accountability project has been recognised for its "outstanding work" with a presentation by the Thames Valley Criminal Justice Board, at its annual conference (14th March).

The Rt Hon Baroness Scotland, Minister of State for the Home Office, presented the award. She said, "The government believes that alliances with community groups can bring additional and different ways of working that reduce the trauma of crime for victims and anchor people back into a law abiding life.

"Circles is an example that speaks volumes about how statutory services, in this case probation, and a community network, the Society of Friends, can work successfully together."

Helen Drewery, who manages the project on behalf of Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) said, "We're delighted that our work is being celebrated by the local criminal justice agencies, who are our partners in the work."

For more infomation on this work go to Repairing the Harm.

For other projects QPSW are invoved in go to  Quaker Peace & Social Witness