The DAWN Project, which operates in Wrexham and Flintshire, brings together the leading agencies providing rehabilitation programmes for offenders with drug and alcohol problems.

The aim is to offer a range of services and opportunities designed to reduce re-offending and increase the chances of getting a job.

It is a joint effort involving the North Wales Probation Area, Altcourse Prison, NACRO, The Princes Trust, SOVA, Shelter, Working Links, Community Justice Interventions Wales, the CAIS drug and alcohol agency and North Wales health boards.

Their effective partnership work has now been recognised with an award from the North Wales Criminal Justice Board.

The multi-agency approach has helped hundreds of people in North Wales enter higher education and find a full time job.

A study by Sheffield Hallam University published last year showed that in 2006 the Dawn Project had provided a springboard for 570 to enter the world of higher education.

Nearly 150 clients had gone into full-time employment with another 41 getting part time jobs or becoming self-employed.

The fact so many people have been helped to get their lives back on track has led to a reduction in re-offending rates.

Anne Newhall, Wales operations manager for NACRO, the lead agency in the DAWN Project, said: "It's brilliant the work of the DAWN Project has been recognised in this way.

"Sometimes we tend to think that people perhaps aren't fully aware of what we do, how much difference it makes in people's lives.

"We've all got our own specialisms but we all work together so that again the service user gets the best of the service without everything being duplicated.

"A lot of the staff are based in the same buildings, we share resources and, with the permission of the user, we share information so they don't keep repeating things like their name and address to six different people.

"All information is kept together and it means that they perhaps get quicker access into services."

The award is well deserved, according to Carol Moore, chief officer of the North Wales Probation Area.

She said: "I believe the project deserves the recognition of the Justice Award due to its pioneering approach to partnership working and commitment to making a difference by all its members.

"Prior to the creation of the partnership, the individual agencies provided services to the North Wales Probation Area on a piecemeal, inconsistent basis.

"DAWN now provides a range of services designed to reduce re-offending and promote employability."