Community Centre's New Lease of Life
03/06/2011
A community centre has been given a new lease of life by offenders on probation.
Volunteers at Northbrook Barn Community Centre, Squadron Drive, Worthing, asked Surrey & Sussex Probation Trust to help spruce up the ageing facilities last year as part of the Community Payback initiative.
Community Payback is unpaid work carried out by offenders on behalf of the community as punishment for their crimes.
Groups of up to ten offenders have been working at Northbrook Barn one day a week since February. They have repainted a large perimeter fence, rubbed down and treated the timber exterior and windows and are now in the process of redecorating indoors:
John Doswell, who manages the Scout-owned centre, said: This is a busy facility used six days a week by the local community. Were delighted that Community Payback has allowed us to complete this work, which we would never have been able to afford otherwise.
Offenders provide free labour but the centre has paid for all materials for the work.
Mr Doswell added: Were very impressed with the quality of the work and by the conduct of probation staff and offenders. They have nearly completed redecorating the upstairs and are now working their way through the ground floor. Its given us a new lease of life. The users are happy and we are very grateful.
Rosie Martin, Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust Community Payback manager, said: We always look for projects which will provide hard work as a punishment for offenders but at the same time provide a real and visible benefit to the community and the work at Northbrook Barn does exactly that.
Visit our Nominate a Project section to suggest work for the Community Payback team in your area.
