Criminals paying back their debt to society
South Lanarkshire Council provide more than 500 unpaid work places each year to people on Community Payback Orders.
A variety of activities undertaken by those issued with the court order were on show at an Unpaid Work Service open day hosted by the local authority.
Service users and members of staff were on hand at Auchentibber Resource Centre, in Blantyre, to explain the kind of work they do and the benefits it can bring to communities.
A stream of visitors, from professionals to volunteers to elected council members, kept the facility busy throughout the day as guides took them around the exhibits.
Liam Purdie, head of children and justice services, said: “More than 500 unpaid work placements are provided in South Lanarkshire each year, but there is often a misconception that there is a limited amount of activities that this can involve, such as physical outdoor work like painting railings or working on parkland.
“In reality, a surprisingly wide range of work can be undertaken such as environmental improvements or conservation activities, or service users can support local charitable organisations, community/ voluntary groups or people in hardship or crisis.
“For example, we have a laundry service which can provide both short-term emergency assistance for individuals and ongoing work for charities and local groups, and a workshop where a huge range of work can be carried out, including anything from refurbishment of benches for parks to the fabrication of story chairs for schools.”
One activity that caught the eye – and the taste buds – of many of the visitors to the open day was the bread-making taking place in the Auchentibber unit’s kitchen.
Among those on one of the tours were volunteers from a foodbank that receives bread from the Unpaid Work Service, and they took the chance to express their gratitude and that the families who receive it had been thrilled with it.