Community Payback Unpaid Work Scheme
IMAGE: The cover shows the words “Community Payback” and “Unpaid Work Scheme,” alongside the Orkney Health and Care logo. A photograph shows a fenced outdoor play area beside a small building.
Table of Contents
What is Unpaid Work? — 3
Why Unpaid Work? — 4
Comments from Beneficiaries — 5
The Work of Community Payback Orders — 6–14
Get Involved — 15
What happens next? — 15
Who are we? — 16
Getting in touch — 16
IMAGE: A photograph shows a large stone building, presented as a decorative image beneath the contents list.
What is Unpaid Work?
Unpaid work is type of sentence that courts impose to be served in the community, these are known as Community Payback Orders (CPO’s).
A Community Payback Order can vary in length according to the court’s view of the circumstances, and often includes Supervision, where there are identified needs that a Social Worker can help resolve, or Unpaid Work, or both. The overall aim is to reduce the risk of reoffending. The criteria for Unpaid Work tasks include:
- Benefiting the local community
- Not taking away from paid work from others
- Costs of materials generally supplied by the beneficiary
This booklet contains examples of Unpaid Work Projects completed by clients in Orkney.
If you have an idea for a task that we could help with, you can ring us on 01856 873535 ext 2660 or e-mail us at criminal.justice@orkney.gov.uk
IMAGE: A sign reads: “This project has been assisted by Community Payback Workers”. It also includes the words “Community Payback”, “Breaking the cycle of re-offending”, “Orkney Health and Care” and “Criminal Justice Social Work”.
Why Unpaid Work?
It gives individuals a chance to work for the benefit of the community and ‘payback’ following their involvement in offending behaviour. Those engaged with Unpaid Work can remain in their employment and continue to support their family. For those not in employment, they can learn new skills to help them identify a new career opportunity. The support and guidance received will help to reduce the risk of further engagement in offending behaviour.
“Scotland’s communities have benefited from over 12.5 million hours of unpaid work since 2011”
Comments from our service users
“It’s given me time to reflect on my situation, make plans and adjustments for the future”
“Unpaid work made me feel part of the community”
“Unpaid work was much better than expected, there is a sense of comradery which has been somewhat an incentive, supervisors have been treating me with respect and fairly”
“I have found my time at unpaid work to be productive and positive. I believe I have relaxed more while being here.”
“I very much feel like it has made me reflect on a lot of issues I have had. The social side has really helped with my social anxiety”
Comments from Beneficiaries
Aurrida House
“Thank you and your team for your amazing work! We couldn’t be more grateful.
Aurrida garden as you will have seen was looking very tired. You and your team came together at such short notice to do a great job…”
IMAGE: Two photographs show a wooden shed and garden area at Aurrida House before and after work was carried out.
Historic Environment Scotland
“A big thank you from us all for looking after the Barnhouse Village again this summer. It makes such a difference having it weeded and looking good for the daily tours and visitors who are visiting the site in increasing numbers.”
IMAGE: Two photographs show the Barnhouse Village archaeological site before and after vegetation and surrounding areas were cleared and tidied.
The Work of Community Payback Orders
We supported families by making Barbie Furniture and Christmas Decorations to bring some festive Cheer!
IMAGE: A collage shows handmade wooden Barbie furniture, including beds, chairs, shelving and a desk, along with wooden Christmas tree decorations and bundles of handmade items.
Aurrida House saw a refresh of some worn spaces bring a new lease of life for service users to enjoy
IMAGE: A collage shows refreshed outdoor spaces at Aurrida House, including painted fencing, a children’s play area, a refurbished shed, a gate and tidied garden areas.
St Lawrence Kirk saw some improvements with a new bench and planters, creating a nice area for the community to enjoy
IMAGE: Photographs show the stone interior of St Lawrence Kirk before and after improvements, including a gravelled floor, a green bench and planters.
Did you know that many of the community benches around Orkney have been refreshed by Community Payback Orders?
IMAGE: A collage shows several community benches before and after refurbishment. The benches have been cleaned, repaired and repainted in different colours, including red, brown and dark wood finishes.
Some of the items made through Community Payback Orders find homes in our community. Some of the pieces are sold by Employability Orkney
IMAGE: A collage shows handmade items including red-painted benches and chairs, a painted artwork panel, a white playpen, a wooden crib, a brown planter and a blue desk with drawers.
A refresh to the Marengo Community Garden benches
IMAGE: Photographs show Marengo Community Garden benches before and after refurbishment. The finished benches are cleaned and painted dark brown.
Many community spaces need a bit of help and support to bring them back to life. Sanday School saw a lighter fence following a fresh coat of paint!
We also support individual pieces of art as a way to reflect and build skills
IMAGE: Photographs show a freshly painted fence at Sanday School and examples of artwork, including framed illustrations, a framed mosaic with the words “DEUS ADIUVA ME”, “MEMENTO MORI” and “TEMPUS FUGIT”, and a framed map.
In Hoy Community Payback Orders helped to keep areas usable for public, here we refreshed the memorial areas.
IMAGE: Photographs show a Hoy memorial area with paved ground, a memorial structure, a bench and surrounding grass. Other photographs show a cleared grassy bank and a flight of steps with a handrail leading up to the memorial.
Sometimes, community areas get a little overgrown, Community Payback Orders can help to tidy spaces making them look better and keep them safe for us all to use
IMAGE: Photographs show overgrown paths and garden areas before and after clearance. The work includes cutting back vegetation, clearing leaves and filling large white bags with garden waste.
Get Involved
Projects and Placements
Unpaid work can provide labour to charity organisations in the local area who qualify or need help to undertake projects. The work of those on Unpaid Work is important and is overseen by trained supervisors to ensure quality. Strict Supervision is provided at all times.
Projects we will undertake include:
- Gardening/grass cutting
- Woodworking / bench making
- Light building duties
- Furniture removals
- Tidy up environmental and community areas
If you have ideas or suggestions for unpaid work, please get in touch.
Contact details are on the back of this leaflet.
What Happens Next?
After contacting the office to make a request for projects to be undertaken, our team will visit and explain what is involved and assess the project work to be undertaken. If approved a start date will be arranged.
Although our service has a range of tools and equipment, we do not provide materials such as paint or other items needed.
We make every effort to finish all project work as soon as we can without compromising on quality.
WHO WE ARE
Criminal Justice Service’s aims to prevent and reduce offending by supporting the needs of individuals. The service wants to achieve the best possible outcomes for individual's who are engaged in the service, victims, families and communities.
GETTING IN TOUCH
If you have any questions or comments please get in touch with us, we can be reached at.
Criminal Justice Service
Orkney Islands Council
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1NY
Phone: 01856 873535 ext 2660
Email: criminal.justice@orkney.gov.uk
Web: www.orkney.gov.uk/communityjustice