Coventry’s Youth Offending Service has won a prestigious national award following a series of articles in the Evening Telegraph about its work.

The service – which is at the cutting edge of beating youth crime – picked up the national Youth Justice Board Press and PR award after the articles by Evening Telegraph crime reporter Hayley Cuthbertson appeared in the paper.

Judges said they were impressed by the “positive and consistent” coverage, and cited the collaboration between YOS and the Coventry Evening Telegraph as an excellent example of partnership working.

The pieces, which beat more than 150 other entries, highlighted schemes run by youth workers in the city aimed at getting young people with criminal convictions back on track.

The schemes included tailor-made packages which involve aspects of community punishment and reparation, alongside education or training. Youngsters with drug or alcohol problems also receive specialist help.

The paper also campaigned to find volunteers to sit on special youth panels, giving the community a say for the first time in how young offenders are dealt with.

The award was handed to Andy Pepper, head of Coventry YOS, by Rachael Pitkeathley, director of communications for Youth Justice Board, at a national conference in London.

Andy said: “The positive profile given to our work by the paper helps not only to raise awareness about our work, but also hopefully to reduce the fear of crime in the city.”

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