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Trust project rehabilitating offenders shortlisted for national award

A Peak District project rehabilitating offenders on probation is one of six outstanding projects making a difference in National Parks to have been shortlisted for national awards run by Campaign for National Parks, the charity for England and Wales’ 13 National Parks.

Skill Builders by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, has fought of stiff competition to be within touching distance of the Awards, the results of which will be announced at a parliamentary reception in July. The winner of the Park Protector Award will receive a £2000 grant towards their work, while the winner of the Year of Green Action Award will receive £1,500.

“From introducing asylum seekers to the Yorkshire Dales to rescuing endangered butterflies, its testament to the power of the National Parks that they are inspiring people to make our countryside a better place for all.” Said Andrew Hall of Campaign for National Parks.

Dave Cramp Peak Park Conservation Volunteers Officer: The team are delighted to have been to hear that they have been shortlisted for the CNP ‘Park Protectors award’ This project may well be made up of members who have completed enforced programs through the probation service but have now made a conscious decision to join this volunteer group.  It doesn't really matter where they ‘come from’ it's a project about ‘where they are going’.  Members of the group have come to their own conclusion that they need to make changes in their life to move forward, and that is a very powerful thing to do.  They are now voluntarily contributing to protect and enhance the Peak District National Park for the good of the society that they are members of.”

From Nikki Dyas Project lead at Staffordshire Wildlife Trust; “Working with Skills Builder has been a great experience and I feel privileged to have witnessed first hand the huge benefits people have gained from this opportunity.”

Launching the competition, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, the Government minister for National Parks said: “From my experience travelling the diverse and beautiful landscapes of the Parks I know that there is work to be done, whether that is work to enhance nature or introduce more people than ever to the glory of the countryside. But I also know that very challenge is being embraced by projects up and down the country.”

The shortlisted projects are competing to win the Park Protector Award and the very first Year of Green Action Award for National Park projects from the Government’s Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This year saw the most applicants apply in the competition history.