A scheme to divert young people away from serious crime has been recognised in Europe.
A Scottish project diverting young people away from a life in organised crime has been recognised at a prestigious international awards ceremony.
Action for Children’s Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service, which has been running in Glasgow since 2013, won the award for Excellence at the European Social Services Awards in Brussels this month.
The awards are organised by the European Social Network (ESN) to honour excellence in social services, highlighting successful approaches and the ongoing work done by those managing, planning and delivering public social services across the continent.
The Action for Children project was one of two Scottish nominees for the awards and one of only five from the whole of the UK for the event.
It comes after the project was named Young People’s Project of the Year at the Herald Society Awards in November. The initiative will now be rolled out across the UK thanks to £4.6 million of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Paul Carberry, Action for Children director for Scotland, will travel to Hamburg next summer to make a presentation about the project to representatives from across Europe.
He said: “We are honoured to be recognised this this awards ceremony, which shines a light on the successful delivery of social services across Europe.
“Our Serious Organised Crime Early Intervention Service is a true Scottish success story, delivered in partnership Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership, Police Scotland and the Scottish Government. We are all very proud of its success to date in diverting young people away from a life in organised crime and, now, it’s UK-wide roll-out.
“Glasgow and Scotland really are leading the way in Europe when it comes to dealing with serious organised crime. I look forward to presenting to nations across Europe on the project’s work and how Scotland is on the front foot when it comes to efforts in tackling organised crime.
“To be recognised with the Excellence award is an incredible achievement and a reflection on the incredible work undertaken by frontline staff at Action for Children, Police Scotland and social workers in Glasgow in diverting young people away from a life in organised crime.”
