Mark Pimblett and Sam Bradshaw have earned accolades from the most prestigious award scheme for prison and probation officers.

The duo, who both work for the Cheshire & Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company, have earned certificates in the annual Butler Trust scheme. More than 380 prison and probation staff were nominated, but only 50 certificates have been issued.

Sam is a probation case manager based in Tameside while Mark is a Community Payback supervisor.

Sam’s award is partly in recognition of the work she did with David, a former crack cocaine user who spoke to the Manchester Evening News about his battle to quit the drug earlier this year. He has now successfully completed is Community Order, has been free from the drug for several months and is embracing a new future.

She said: “I feel really proud to get the recognition. I don’t think I do anything special, I just do my job, but I really do care about our service users and I want to do everything I can to help them succeed.

“I give 100 per cent to every service user and I genuinely love my job.”

One of the schemes which Mark led on that impressed the Butler Trust was creating a pathway for a man in Bolton who uses a wheel chair so that he could access his allotment.

Mark said: “If you’d have told me 10-years-ago that I’d end up working with people on unpaid work orders – and loving doing it – I’d have never believed you.

“I like doing it in a way that involves the people that attend to really get something out of their unpaid work order.

“It’s a tough role, but it’s more than worth it when you can engage with people and help them learn skills which will keep them out of trouble in the future.”

Chris Edwards, CGM CRC’s chief executive, said: “The Butler Trust is a prestigious initiative open to anyone from the prison and probation services, and gaining the certificate is a significant achievement which few receive.

“Both Sam and Mark should feel justifiably proud of their efforts. The recognition signifies not just the fact they work hard, but also the fact they are willing to go that extra mile.

“It’s about their ability to help people change their behaviours, and to work in a personalised way with our service users to help them make positive change. We have to deliver certain things mandated by the court, but tailoring it in a way which connects it to the individual is the absolute key.”

Caption: pictured above is CGM CRC’s chief executive Chris Edwards (middle) flanked by Sam Bradshaw, probation case manager (left), and Mark Pimblett, Community Payback supervisor.