People living in the West Shields area of South Tyneside can hear more about unpaid work projects in their neighbourhoods when their local community area forum meets next week (Thursday 22nd July).
Between April 2009 and April 2010, offenders undertook more than 21,000 hours of unpaid work across South Tyneside as part of the Community Payback scheme. Projects have ranged from graffiti removal, litter picking, gardening, painting and decorating public buildings.
David Rees, from Northumbria Probation Service, will be talking more about the scheme and inviting the Forum to suggest some projects in the West Shields area that could benefit from the scheme.
Chairman of the Forum, Councillor Olive Punchion said: "This is a really good scheme giving offenders the chance to put something back into the community.
"It not only benefits neighbourhoods by helping to create cleaner and safer environments for residents but it enables offenders to learn new work-based skills that will hopefully help with their rehabilitation and reduce the chances of them re-offending.
"The Forum will be given the chance to put forward any ideas for projects they would like to see completed by offenders. I'm sure it will generate some interesting discussion. I hope that people will come along to find out more."
Forum members will also receive an update on enterprise and employment programmes that are in place to help create job opportunities and get people back into work in South Tyneside.
Sarah James, the Council's Employment Development Team Leader, will being outlining key initiatives in place, success to date and the barriers and challenges in delivering the projects. The report will include information on the Making Headway programme and its work in the West Shields area.
Other items on the agenda include reports highlighting various community safety partner activities taking place in West Shields and the latest information from South Tyneside Homes.
Members of the press and public are welcome to attend the next meeting of the West Shields Community Area Forum, which takes place on Thursday 22 July, at 10am, in the Harton and Westoe Miners Welfare Hall, Low Lane, South Shields.
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