A Brimscombe-based charity has been recognised for its outstanding contribution to helping stop people from falling into crime.

The Nelson Trust was awarded Runner Up at The Howard League for Penal Reform Community Awards 2016 in London on Wednesday.

It came second place in Organisation of the Year and was nominated as Best Women’s Community Service.

The Stroud charity’s experts work to understand and treat addiction, which is so often the root cause of offending.

They do this through residential rehabilitation from drug and alcohol addiction services for men and woman in Stroud, and they provide women only community services throughout Gloucestershire.

Finalists gathered at The King’s Fund in the heart of London’s West End where an exhibition of shortlisted awards programmes were open for viewing before Lord Willy Bach, Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire, presented the awards.

The community awards recognise the country’s most successful projects working to lower crime.

These annual awards celebrate best practice in diversionary work and champion work in the community that challenges and changes people for the better – be it with children, men, women, mental health programmes or restorative justice.

John Trolan CEO said: “We are delighted to have been recognised nationally by The Howard League and would like to thank those who nominated us especially Stephanie Covington and Rose Mahon.

“We would not be successful without the talented, creative, committed and passionate group of people I’ve ever had the honour to work with.

“Together with organisations like The Howard League we can help bend that arc towards a social justice.”

A spokesperson for the charity said: “The Nelson Trust are delighted to receive this award, it will help us to continue to tell our story and secure vital funds to support our services.

“We believe that with the right support anyone can achieve their full potential.”

The Duchess of Cambridge recently visited the charity’s women centre in Gloucester. It was set up in 2010 and is designed to support women who have vulnerabilities, particularly those who have experienced abuse and trauma.

The Trust is based in Port Lane, Brimscombe.

For more information visit www.nelsontrust.com