Nottingham-based probation staff members organised a team building day on 17 October to work alongside men and women completing their hours of Community Payback to transform the appearance of two subways in the Meadows area.

The Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland Community Rehabilitation Company (the DLNR CRC) – supervise service users, who have been ordered by the Courts, to undertake unpaid reparation work that benefits local communities.

Councillor Sally Longford, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services said: “The Meadows is an area that had experienced problems in the past with anti-social behaviour, but community action has resulted in the residents now feeling very positive about their neighbourhood’s future.

“We need these gloomy subways to be brightened up! If we can paint the subways in a light colour, that will improve their appearance, create a better feeling about the neighbourhood and cut down on anti-social incidents. It is great to see the probation staff members and service users making a difference in the area”

Mark Challinor, Project Placement Coordinator with the DLNR CRC, explained that the team building exercise did not interfere with the supervised work party who were allocated the project on the day.

“Our staff from the Customer Service Centre in Nottingham answer enquiries and provide administrative support to probation teams working directly with service users, added Mark Challinor. “This was a chance for colleagues, particularly new staff, to have a better understanding of our working role as a Community Rehabilitation Company and the positive impact that our work can have for local communities. This day had been jointly co-ordinated by Senior Customer Service Consultant, Linda James, and Rachel Bailey at the Customer Service Centre.”

Partnership approach

A total of £25 worth of vouchers was donated by Wilko to purchase additional rollers and brushes. Nottingham City Council supplied the special high opacity paint for the subways and use of their facilities at the local Queen’s Walk Community Centre for probation staff members and service users to use for their breaks.

Editors Notes:

The DLNR CRC is managed by the Reducing Reoffending Partnership (RRP) to provide supervision and a range of interventions to enable offenders to successfully rehabilitate. The RRP is comprised of Ingeus, a major provider of people-centre services, CGL, the largest substance misuse provider in the UK and St Giles Trust, a leading criminal justice charity.

Community Payback – The number of hours can vary from 40 to 300 hours. In a recent 12 month period Community Payback in the DLNR CRC region was valued at more than £2 million as the total hours completed was nearly 400,000.

Before – Bridgeway Centre Subway
After – Bridgeway Centre Subway