Crawley probation officer awarded by princess for rehabilitation work

Joanne Wood, Senior Probation Officer with Kent Surrey & Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company (KSS CRC) receiving a Butler's Trust commendation from HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal - picture submitted by KSS CRC

Joanne Wood, senior probation officer with Kent Surrey & Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company (KSS CRC) picked up the a sought after commendation from the Butler Trust with her colleague David Morris for their work in the field of rehabilitating offenders.

Joanne and David received their awards from the Butler Trust’s Patron, HRH Princess Anne at a ceremony held at St James’s Palace in London, on March 10.

The Butler Trust Annual Awards, now in their 31st year, recognise outstanding contributions by people working in UK prisons, probation and youth justice.

Joanne, who is based in Crawley, covers Sussex as part of a team, was a probation officer when the awards were being judged; she has since been promoted to Senior Probation Officer.

She has been granted an Award, one of only ten given each year, for outstanding dedication and all-round excellence in her work with persistent prolific offenders.

According to the colleague who nominated her, ‘if there was a mould for the perfect probation officer it would be in the shape of Joanne Wood’.

The Kent Surrey & Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company Ltd works to reduce reoffending and in so doing, improve people’s lives –potential victims as well as perpetrators of crime.

We work with people who have been sentenced by a court to either custody or community supervision and who are classed as low to medium risk.

Joanne said: “I’m just doing my job, so it’s a real honour to be recognised on this grand scale.

“I feel incredibly privileged to receive the award from The Princess Royal at St James’s Palace.”

After the ceremony, the Princess spoke to all of the Award Winners and Commendees over afternoon tea in the Palace’s State Rooms.

The Butler Trust Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding practice by people working in criminal justice settings. They are judged by an independent panel. The Trust receives over 300 nominations each year, from which around ten awards and 20 commendations are granted.