INDIVIDUALS and projects dedicated to helping offenders turn their back on crime are to be honoured at an awards ceremony.

North-East charity Nepacs, which works with prisoners and their families to promote resettlement after prisoners have served their sentence, presents its annual awards at Lumley Castle, in Chester-le-Street on Thursday (July 2).

There will be four main awards, presented by Northern Echo editor Peter Barron, and 18 certificates of high commendation presented to individuals or teams who work in probation, prisons and youth offender institutions in Northumberland, Durham, Barnard Castle, and Teesside.

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.

“The transition from custody to community is a crucial point at which prisoners can forge a new crime free life.

“Often they are released with only a £46 discharge grant to their name, and need all the additional help and support they can get to prepare for release and to cope with life on the outside.

“These dedicated professionals who are honoured through the Nepacs awards make all the difference to the safety of our society through reducing the risk of reoffending.”