Free volunteers for Church projects

COMMUNITY PAYBACK & CHURCH PROJECTS

Community Payback are at present working on several sites throughout Staffordshire and the West Midlands.  The relationship between Community Payback Units and Church beneficiaries has been in existence for many years and we are now able to explore new work projects to undertake in the coming months.

Some of the projects that we are currently involved with in the Black Country are Dark House Baptist Church in Bilston, Delves Baptist Church in Walsall, and others in the Dudley area too.  Across Staffordshire work has been undertaken at St Johns, Essington, St James, Norton Caines and St Michaels, Rugeley.

The tasks that our supervised work groups out in the community may currently undertake include the following: –

• Groundworks
• Mowing and strimming
• Cutting back shrubbery
• Outside painting (Benches, Railings, etc)
• Litter Picking

The probation Supervisor managing the work group will provide all tools and equipment for the tasks in hand but is unable to dispose of waste material generated from the work.

With the onset of the pandemic we do have certain work restrictions such as no indoor painting work.  Hopefully this may change as restrictions begin to relax.  Other aspects which must be in place at work locations are use of toilets and a designated rest area for our group to facilitate work breaks.

The process of engaging Community Payback starts simply with a request for work.  The request can be via email or phone call to Chris Bourne – Project & Placement Co-ordinator briefly outlining the nature of the task to be completed.  Once received Chris will then make contact to discuss the work and arrange a visit to site.  Chris will proceed to assess suitability against criteria and if successful, produce a Project File / Risk Assessment for you to review and arrange a potential start date in conjunction with the local Community Payback Unit.

In addition to group activity, Community Payback also arrange Individual Placements for people on probation who are assessed as suitable to work in Charity Shops and food banks for example alongside staff.  Again, if you have links or connections to these types of outlet who maybe in need of assistance then let us know.

Community Payback is a community resource that allows people on probation to make reparation for their crimes and give “something back.”  Work of this nature is both engaging, rewarding, and visible to the community.  Quite often work-related skills are also developed on our groups that people on probation can take forward to support them in their quest to find employment.

I hope you have found this brief insight into Community Payback interesting and if you think my Unit can be of assistance then please make contact.

Thank you.

Trevor Coley
Operations Manager – Black Country North CP Unit

Chris Bourne
Placement & Project Co-ordinator

trevor.coley@justice.gov.uk  / 07922 808177

christopher.bourne@justice.gov.uk  / 07922 805261