TAXMEN, schools, health trusts, JobCentres, and a salsa dancing university are among a record 61 public sector organisations from the North-East winning the Government's gold medal for customer service today.
They are among 744 organisations around the country being presented with a Charter Mark award recognising the extra effort they put into their work. Nine employment service teams from the region will be honoured along with 11 health trusts and prison staff from Durham and Barnard Castle.
Hartlepool Sixth Form College, Customs and Excise staff, the benefits agency at Stanley and local authority departments are also among the winners.
The salsa dancing course is part of the University of Sunderland's initiative to extend learning opportunities to people in the surrounding community.
Prisoners at Low Newton, in Durham, behaved better and wasted less food after they started using a dining room and eating off ceramic plates.
The Ian Ramsey Church of England School, in Stockton, has won a Charter Mark for the first time because it is "a happy and successful school where everyone feels valued".
Cabinet Office Minister and Redcar MP Mo Mowlam is one of the hosts at the award ceremony at London's Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre.
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