Local young offenders have been working hard as part of their community reparation hours to raise money for a very worthy cause.
The young people have been working to raise money for the RNIB, the UK’s leading charity offering information, support and advice to over two million people with sight loss, as part of their community reparation hours.
They have been working to distribute RNIB ‘Sooty’ collection boxes to businesses throughout the local area, and have also spent some of their weekends taking part in charity collections, under the supervision of a Youth Offending Service Officer.
To date, they have raised an excellent £2000, which will benefit blind and partially sighted people all over the UK through over 60 services that the RNIB provide.
Michaela Rogers, Operational Manager at the Youth Offending Service said, “Having a community reparation hours imposed upon an offender means that they must carry out unpaid work in their community, which can include tasks that benefit local people and their neighbourhoods.
Not only are reparation hours intended as a punishment to the young person, they are also intended to help the young person understand the impact that their offending behaviour had on the local community, and help change their behaviour for the better.
The young people were really keen to do something positive that would really benefit the community as part of their reparation work. They have worked extremely hard to raise so much money for such a worthy cause.”
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, “I am full of praise for the local Youth Offending Service for using community reparation as a means of engaging young people in charity work.
In addition to raising significant funds for such a good cause, the project also helps provide the youngsters with so many important life skills such as citizenship.”
One young person who has been taking part in community reparation with the Youth Offending Service said, “I’ve taken part in quite a few projects as part of my reparation hours including litter picks and leaflet drops. However I’ve found this work with the RNIB the most rewarding by far as the money raised will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
For further information on the Youth Offending Service, call 01495 235 623.
