Congratulations go to Gill Adams from everyone at Carmarthenshire County Council, who has been presented with the Butler Trust Award by HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) at a ceremony in London.

In receiving the Award, Gill has been recognised for her unstinting dedication to youth justice for many years and her wider role as Principal Manager of Youth Support Service in Carmarthenshire.

The Butler Trust Awards are the only UK-wide awards specifically for people working in custodial and community justice settings and are often described as the Oscars for the sector.

During her tenure in Carmarthenshire, Gill has overseen a transformation in outcomes for young people, reducing custody and charging levels for all offences.

In doing so, the service has been able to focus on prevention and harm reduction with success at reducing harm in those at risk of drug overdose.

Nominated by her colleagues, Gill is credited as a truly inspiring leader who is both compassionate and passionate about what she does to enrich the lives of young people and enable them to fulfil their true potential.

She has a national profile as one of the longest-serving Youth Offending Team (YOT) managers in the UK and served as chair of the Welsh YOT managers group for many years and on the Youth Justice Blueprint Panel Board for Wales, National Hwb Doeth Board and the National Court User Group & Principal Youth Officers Group.

Within her role as Principal Manager of the County Council’s Youth Support Service, which includes Youth Justice provision, Gill has led the service to be a self-evaluating and learning service that has attained Youth Excellence Awards and the Quality Mark for Youth Work in Wales at Gold Level, having progressed systematically through Bronze and Silver.

Furthermore, Carmarthenshire’s Youth Justice Team is considered to be sector-leading and received confirmation from the Youth Justice Board as being outstanding in respect of all self-assessed indicators.

Gill has ensured that diversity and disproportionality are also at the heart of youth justice practice.

She cares deeply for the wellbeing of staff and service users, to promote a caring and compassionate working environment and culture within the organisation.

Director of Community Services for Carmarthenshire County Council, Jake Morgan said: “There are countless young people whose lives have been transformed because of Gill’s dedication and commitment to the role.

“Gill brings a wealth of experience to the role, exemplifying robust leadership, innovation and empathy at all times.

“She is an effective mentor and has developed and supported staff who have moved to leadership posts within the service and in other local authorities.

“She is a passionate advocate of fairness for individuals, be it staff, children, families and victims, and fiercely proud of the achievements of the service, e.g. presenting at UK Level on the Enhanced Case Management Approach, a successful pilot in Carmarthenshire.

“Gill is a valued member of the Education and Children’s Services Management Team. She is a professional, reliable, and highly experienced officer who effectively leads and contributes to the work of the County Council’s Youth Support Services.

“She is passionate about ensuring all children and young people succeed and have the best opportunities to overcome their challenges and issues.

“She is a worthy winner of the Butler Trust Award, congratulations Gill.”