Recent Projects

For any press enquiries relating to these projects, please contact us on 01785 223416 or via email at staffs.probation@staffordshire.gov.uk.

NAME OF PROJECT : Tillington Primary School, Stafford

PLACEMENT OFFICER : Rebecca Pedley

COMMUNITY PAYBACK UNIT : Stafford

This project was referred to the Stafford Community Payback Unit following the assistance given by offenders at the Holmcroft and Tillington Operation Impact days promoted by Stafford's Community Safety Team.

Offenders have been working at the school since December 2008.  They work one day per week.  A team of at least 8 offenders are allocated.  Up to the end of October 2009, a total of 1,555 hours have been worked on this project.

The team have saved the school thousands of pounds in maintenance costs.  They undertake work which includes general maintenance such as painting, gardening, cleaning gutters and drains, assembling furnniture and other tasks requested by the school staff.

This a good project because offenders who work there are making direct reparation to their community and are also seen to be carrying out the work by the general public.

The team also completes litterpicks on the surrounding estate and undertake occasional leaflet delivereies for the local volunteer newsletter.

In October, they will be delivering leaflets for S&R Homes advertising the Respect Action Day which they are organising.

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NAME OF PROJECT : Friars Road, Stafford

PLACEMENT OFFICER : Rebecca Pedley

COMMUNITY PAYBACK UNIT : Stafford

This project was referred to Stafford Community Payback Unit by Inspector Rob Pilling of Stafford Neighbourhood Policing Unit and Russ Cartlidge, Community Services Manager of Stafford Borough Council.

Numerous complaints were received by the above from residents and businesses about drunken people causing a nuisance on this pathway.

People were sitting on a low wall driking and drug taking and giving verbal abuse to passers by.

A team of 8 offenders as part of their Community Payback Unpaid Work hours and a Supervisor were sent out to Friars Road to demolish the wall and tidy up the area.

The wall was demolished in one day and the area cleared of debris.

Countless passers by remarked that they were very pleased to see the wall was being removed and that it was being done by offenders who were making payback to the community.  A few commented that they would be writing to the local paper in appreciation of the work being done.

Local offenders were worked during this project, a number of which were aware of the problem and commented that THEY felt that the work was useful.

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NAME OF PROJECT : Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Hednesford

PLACEMENT OFFICER : Bill Hartill

COMMUNITY PAYBACK UNIT : Cannock

Community Payback teams in Cannock complete 3,000 hours of work on one specific project every year.  Whilst some projects are nominated by members of the community, some are the result of long-term partnerships which continue to thrive and support organisations who would be hard pressed to finance the cost of regular maintenance.

At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the Cannock Community Payback Unit are celebrating 25 years of partnership where offenders sentenced by the courts are charged with the duties of maintaining the grounds of the church.  As the church is a visible feature of the community and is regularly visited by both parishioners and members of the public, the offenders take pride in the work and often meet with church users who have commented positively about the work undertaken.

Dave Kendrick who is the Supervisor of the team and has worked on this site for 12 years, stated, "I have enjoyed working on this project and it makes everyone feel that they have contributed to improving the environment as well as learning new grounds maintenance skills which can be accredited via input from the local college."

Father Newbold has often remarked on the work undertaken as "The team and supervisor are doing a wonderful job and it is much appreciated."

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NAME OF PROJECT : Saxon Hill Community School

PLACEMENT OFFICER : Shirley Bradley

COMMUNITY PAYBACK UNIT : Lichfield

A team of supervised offenders undertaking Community Payback have recently re-decorated a room at Saxon Hill Community School in Lichfield.

Saxon Hill Community School is for children with physical disabilities and is a specialist school for sensory and physical needs.  The decorated room is to be a sensory room to be used by the children.

Community Payback has been involved with routine maintenance at the school since August 2008 and have worked in excess of 1,000 hours.

Mr Duncan Gorwood, Headteacher, said, "The Community Payback workers make a valuable contribution to the school and this helps to provide educational opportunities for our young people.  We are very grateful for the continued support."

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NAME OF PROJECT : Security Gates/Fencing at Stapenhill

PLACEMENT OFFICER : John Thorndyke

COMMUNITY PAYBACK UNIT : Lichfield

Offenders have been repaying their debt to society by erecting security gates and fences around elderly residents homes in Stapenhill, Burton on Trent.

A team of up to six offenders, given an Upaid Work Requirement by the courts, have been installing the gates and fences each Monday under the Staffordshire Probation Area's Community Payback scheme.

This project has been funded by the Waterside Neighbourhood Forum, working with Staffordshire Probation Area and the Partnership Assuring Safer Staffordshire (PASS).

The gates and fences makes the properties less vulnerable and help residents feel safe and secure in their homes.

Project Co-ordinator, Barbara Simmonds, said, "We cannot thank the Community Payback team enough for the excellent work that they have undertaken in installing the gates for the elderly peoples bungalows.  It has reduced the risk of crime by making the bungalows more secure.  More importantly, the attitude, workmanship and co-operation of the participants has impressed both the elderly people and ourselves."

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NAME OF PROJECT : Kingmead Road, Meir, Stoke on Trent

PLACEMENT OFFICER : Anita Martin

COMMUNITY PAYBACK UNIT : Hanley

Mrs H lives alone and suffers from agoraphobia and bi-polar disorder.  Her Social Services Officer contacted the Community Payback unit to request assistance to address the problem of her overgrown garden.  The garden was not only causing an issue for Mrs H, but was also an eyesore for the neighbours.

Work commenced on the 13 July 2009 with a team of up to 5 supervised offenders attending 1 day each week with a total of 35 hours being worked.

At the conclusion of the project, Mrs H was overwhelmed with the standard of workmanship.  She told the offenders that she was extremely grateful that people were prepared to help her to tidy her garden.

This project also offered the Community Payback offenders an opportunity to assist a member of the public and allowed them to improve their own self esteem following their achievements.

No doubt this transformation of the garden has improved the quality of life both for Mrs H and her neighbours.  The adjoining neighbours have expressed an interest in helping Mrs H to maintain her garden in the future.

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