I was recently invited by those who manage the Community Payback Scheme for the East Midlands to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Scheme by planting a tree in Bradlaugh Fields.
Community Payback, previously known as Community Service, is a programme run by HM Probation Service which hosts those who are ordered by the courts to perform between 40 and 300 hours of unpaid work as a penalty for a criminal offence.
The work carried out by the offenders must go towards supporting the public benefit, and therefore supports the community in doing such activities as cleaning public spaces like parks, removing graffiti and painting walls whilst ensuring that participants feel they are doing something productive for society. The Scheme has meant over the last 50 years that there has been an alternative to sending people for prison for relatively minor offences, and thus reduces the burden on the taxpayer and the prison system.
Since its inception in 1973 as Community Service Orders, the scheme has helped tens of thousands of offenders avoid prison whilst delivering restorative justice to local communities across the country.
Bradlaugh Fields is one public site that sometimes hosts participants of Community Payback, who assist in maintaining the grounds, pruning hedges and picking up litter. Offenders can keep their day job whilst undertaking this supervised work, as many offenders will put an average of 7 hours a week as part of the scheme.
The scheme is run by the Probation Service and I was very pleased to show my support for such a constructive service that has had such a positive impact on the local community by planting a tree to celebrate their 50th anniversary and meeting the diligent staff who oversee the scheme in the local area.
If you are involved in supporting a public or community space in Northampton and believe that those enrolled in Community Payback could be of assistance, then please do get in contact and I can help you liaise with the appropriate authorities.
(Photo: Michael Ellis MP planting a tree at Bradlaugh Fields with supervising staff of the Community Payback Scheme and park wardens in Northampton)