Payback time for young offenders

The Making Good scheme is inviting people in Rotherham to suggest work that they would like to see carried out by young people carrying out community punishments in their area by visiting the Making Good page of the Youth Justice Board web-site.

The scheme is the first of its kind among young offenders and has been launched in Yorkshire and Humberside as part of a national roll out this year.

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“For the first time local people are able to have their say on how young people who have offended can repair some of the damage caused to the community by their offence,” said the chairman of the Youth Justice Board, Frances Done. 

“We encourage the public in Yorkshire and Humberside to visit the Making Good web-site and look forward to receiving their ideas.

“This is your opportunity to get young people to invest their time and energy into worthwhile projects that benefit the community.”

Head of the Youth Offending Teams in Yorkshire and Humberside, Malcolm Potter, said: “YOTs have been delivering community reparation projects with young offenders for some time now and often consult with local groups for suggestions, but we're always keen to hear about new potential projects, whether it's clearing up a public space or helping with a community group.”

All reparation work is unpaid and is overseen by the youth offending team.

Ideas for work might range from improving green spaces to decorating community centres or helping with local charities.

Deserving community-based projects can be suggested until a deadline of June 18.

Visit the Making Good web-site at http://www.yjb.gov.uk/en-gb/yjs/MakingGood/ to make a suggestion.