Community Payback

Offenders work unpaid for the benefit of the community as part of the Community Payback scheme. Local people and organisations are given the opportunity to put forward their suggestions for projects they would like to be completed by offenders. It provides the opportunity for offenders to pay back their community and to learn new work-based skills which can help with their rehabilitation and reduce re-offending.

Offenders working in the community are carefully assessed to ensure they don’t pose any risk to the public while they are carrying out unpaid work.

A project must meet the following criteria:

• It must benefit the local community.
• It must not take away paid work from others.
• No one must make a profit from the work.
• It must be worthwhile, constructive and give offenders new skills.
• Offenders must be seen to be putting something back into the community.

Projects, already undertaken by offenders, include removing graffiti, clearing litter, gardening and repairing and re-decorating community centres and other public buildings. All of this work has benefited communities and has helped to create a cleaner and safer environment for people. Community organisations, voluntary groups and local authorities are encouraged to suggest projects they would like to see the probation service get involved with. Once the work has been completed the Community Payback logo is displayed to mark the contribution that’s been made.

How to get involved

If you have a suitable project in mind, please fill in the suggestion form. We need your help to find out about projects we could work on. 

For more information please contact your nearest office:

• Gateshead - Tel: 0191 478 2451
• Newcastle - Tel: 0191 261 9091
• North Tyneside - Tel: 0191 262 9211
• Northumberland - Tel: 01670 813 053
• South Tyneside - Tel: 0191 455 2294
• Sunderland - Tel: 0191 510 2030

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