City parks given boost by people completing community sentences
PEOPLE completing community sentences have been digging in to improve flowerbeds in Glasgow parks.
Work has been carried out at Tollcross Park by people carrying out Community Payback Orders under the supervision of Sacro.
The park hosts International Rose Trials and those carrying out unpaid work as part of their community sentences have helped maintain other parts of the park for visitors to enjoy, while work has also taken place in Bellahouston Park.
Jo Thomace, community justice manager for Sacro, said: “As part of their Community Payback Orders, teams worked on flowerbeds at Tollcross Park alongside Sacro’s educational gardeners.
“Work was carried out in partnership with the Friends of Tollcross Park, on projects also supported by volunteers and veterans’ groups in the community.
“In partnership with the local authority, our workers support individuals placed on a Community Payback Order, giving them an opportunity to give something back to the community by providing a service of real benefit.”
A YouGov Survey of more than 1000 Scottish adults, carried out on behalf of Community Justice Scotland (CJS), found that more than three-quarters of people think unpaid work improves communities.
It also found 63% think it’s an opportunity for someone to learn new skills.
CJS is responsible for monitoring, promoting, and supporting improvements to community justice services and they have launched a new framing guide to help the way people talk about community justice to increase public awareness and confidence in it as a sentencing option as evidence shows community justice can help people stop breaking the law again leading to fewer victims and safer communities.
Karyn McCluskey, chief executive of Community Justice Scotland, said: “The evidence shows how sentences in the community can prevent crime and help rehabilitation.
“Now increasing numbers of the public are recognising the benefits not only to communities but also to the individuals serving sentences where they’re able to give something back.”