Unpaid work teams are having positive impact
A group supporting disabled children and disadvantaged families has been among those helped by people carrying out community sentences in Midlothian.
Various projects were highlighted in the new annual Community Payback Order report 20222023, published recently by Community Justice Scotland.
It showed that areas across the country have been helped by 1.3 million hours of unpaid work over the year, while people carrying out community payback orders (CPOs) have been held to account and supported to reconnect and contribute to their communities.
There were a number of organisations helped by the Midlothian unpaid work team, who completed
278 projects benefitting
221 individuals in partnership with groups and charities supporting communities most impacted by crime.
Caroline Griffiths, Community Justice Coordinator for Midlothian, said: “Community sentences have had a positive impact on our communities. “With CPOs, people might have to carry out unpaid work in the community or can have a supervision requirement and are supported to reduce their risk of reoffending.”
Margaret Parker, manager of Kidz United, a group supporting children with disabilities and under privileged families in Midlothian, received helped with moving furniture and tidying gardens for families and their carers.
Praising the team’s work, she said: “They’ve gone above and beyond for our group. On behalf of Kidz United and all the other families we support a big massive thank you from the bottom of ours hearts for helping all our families to get through what has been a really tough year.”
Victoria Guthrie, of Community Justice Scotland, said: “Unpaid work has transformed different areas and supported those in need, making a meaningful impact on communities across the country.”