Community Payback

Unpaid Work (Community Payback) is one of 12 possible requirements of a Community Order that can be sentenced to an offender by the Court.  It can range from 40 – 300 hours depending on the offence committed and is usually to be completed within 12 months.   Nearly half of the current caseload of the Probation Service is Community Payback work, making this a very significant part of the work of the Service.

Community Payback allows offenders to give something back to the Community.  The type of work that they can be participating in includes:

• graffiti removal
• environmental projects    
• renovating communal areas
• cleaning up children’s playgrounds
• renovating buildings e.g. church halls, community centres

Communities benefit from offenders undertaking Community Payback work by receiving significant levels of free labour.  Each year over eight million hours of Community Payback work is carried out nationally and this leads to savings for communities of £45 million per annum.  Communities can have their say in what projects they would like undertaken by contacting their local probation service.

Recent examples of Community Payback projects undertaken across Cumbria

Through completing Community Payback work, offenders are able to rehabilitate themselves which in turn leads to a reduction in offending.  The new skills that they learn and carry out can lead to them obtaining qualifications and gaining relevant experience that can help towards employment opportunities.  Offenders who have been assessed as having employment related needs are also given the opportunity to spend up to 20% of the sentence on basic literacy or other work necessary to allow them to benefit as much as possible from the work that they are doing.  The pictures show offenders undertaking some of the many Community Payback projects currently underway in Cumbria.  Almost all projects undertaken are as a result of requests from communities either via our website, direct communications with us or our partner organisations or referrals from other organisations.

We have recently undertaken work in partnership with Northern Rail, Barrow Borough Council, Derwent Anglers and numerous community groups.  See our news section for details on current Community Payback projects.

The photographs above show real Community Payback projects being delivered by offenders on unpaid work.

Community Payback being delivered during the cold snap in January 2010. 

Cumbria Probation worked very closely with partners including Carlisle City Council to ensure that pavements in the centre of Carlisle were made safe for pedestrians.

Although not part of the Justice Seen, Justice Done pilot project we are very happy to consider any nominations for Community Payback.  If you would like to nominate a project to benefit your community, or are interested in having a presentation on Community Payback given in your area, please contact:

Lynn Halfpenny

Barrow Probation Office

10 Lawson Street

Barrow in Furness

LA14 2LW

Tel: (01229) 820870

Email: lynn.halfpenny@cumbria.probation.gsi.gov.uk

Alternatively please check that your suggestion meets the criteria in the checklist below then complete the Community Payback suggestion form and email it to us at hq@cumbria.probation.gsi.gov.uk

Community Payback suggestion form

Criteria for Community Payback suggestion