Two Criminal Justice related initiatives have been recognised at the recent annual Falkirk Council 'Celebrating Success' Awards. Unpaid work by offenders at Dollar Park Walled Garden won the award in the Environmental Initiative category, whilst the Women's Service in Criminal Justice Social Work was highly commended in the Service Accessibility category.

Initiatives are judged on 6 factors:

• how it improved services
• how it saved money/improved efficiency
• how it improved the working environment
• how it involved cross-service working
• how it involved the community
• positive feedback received

Dollar Park Walled Garden: Criminal Justice Unpaid Work team in negotiation with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends of Dollar Park took responsibility for developing the park, which had deteriorated into a state of disrepair. The park was enhanced to include a ‘discovery path' which will be an educational and fun activity for children with hidden interest built into the park in the form of planting, tactile sculpture, a box-planted mini-maze and a sunken chessboard.

Women's Service in Criminal Justice Social Work: The Women's Service is a new innovative development created to address some of the problems experienced by women involved in the criminal justice system. Additional funding from the CJA has facilitated the creation of a Women's Development Worker who provides a prison service and a drop-in service, at which advice is given and referrals made to relevant agencies. This post has improved the ability of CJS to respond to the needs of women involved in the criminal justice system by increasing communication within and outwith the service.