Community Payback in Manchester
Offenders Resurrect Platt Chapel
OFFENDERS are helping resurrect Platt Chapel so that it can once again become a thriving part of Rusholme.
The Platt Chapel Community Hub project was launched by youth worker Hazel O’Keefe to transform the building, in Wilmslow Road.Groups of offenders, rigorously supervised by Manchester’s Community Payback team, have carried out a range of tasks from shifting tonnes of rubbish through to sanding down the floor, decorating the interior and renovating the exterior.
The aim is to re-open the former chapel, which dates back to 1699, and host workshops, events and classes.
Hazel said: "It is an ambitious project, but I am convinced that if the community backs it then we will make fantastic use of the beautiful premises.
"The offenders have done a superb job, we would have really struggled to have paid for the labour because it would have cost thousands, and the standard of work they have done is very impressive.
"Local residents are also delighted, some of the land around the chapel had been used as a dumping ground and parts of it had become an eyesore – but the offenders have cleared it all up."
Kevin Harrison, Community Payback Officer, has supervised teams of up to eight offenders working since the end of April at the site.
He said: "Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law and a way for offenders to make up to the community for the harm they have done.
"The beauty of this project is that the building had fallen into disuse but offenders have helped the community reclaim it. We know the work will benefit residents."
Hazel added: "At least one of the offenders has completed his order and is keen to volunteer at the centre.
"That fits perfectly into our ethos and hopefully we can support more people to move away from offending.
"I also want to give special thanks to Ace Decors for donating the paint used by the Community Payback team."
Platt Chapel was built for the Worsley family of Platt Hall, before becoming a non-conformist place of worship in 1720. It has also housed the Manchester Amateur Photographic Society, a theatre group and was latterly a student gig venue.
Offenders Transform Allotments
OFFENDERS have transformed an overgrown allotment into an area growing fruit and vegetables to feed vulnerable people in Gorton, East Manchester.
As well as working the land, they help care for chickens, ducks and geese that provide eggs for two local drop-in centres.
Franciscan tertiary Rev. David Gray, who first became involved with GMPT when probation helped restore Gorton Monastery, invited Community Payback to work on disused plots at Debdale Park allotments. 
The Faith in Community allotment, run in partnership with the Faith Network for Manchester, are now harvesting the results. The project – developed by David’s wife Elaine - now boasts a fox proof poultry enclosure complete with pond, raised beds, a poly tunnel and a school-room for indoor activities.
Rev Gray, dubbed "punk monk" by fans of Goldblade, the Punk-Rock band who have taken him under their wing to support his work with young people, said: "As well as food from the allotment helping to feed vulnerable people, we now have the facilities to teach healthy eating, composting, poultry care and other skills to schools and community groups.
"Children with challenging behaviours can struggle at school, but teaching them how to grow food teaches valuable skills and can help re-engage them.
"The offenders have been fantastic and have recommended ideas that we’ve implemented at the allotment, such as clearing the bank."
Eggs, fruit and veg from the plot are being used by two local drop-in centres as part of the Pharaoh’s Barn network that is helping to feed vulnerable people across the city and reduce food waste. David also takes eggs to bereaved families.
Community Payback Officer David O'Connor,, who is based at the Greater Manchester Probation Trust’s Victoria Park office, said: "Elaine has inspired the offenders, they recognise the project will benefit disadvantaged people in the community and can see their work is valued.
"Some of the offenders have worked everyday at the site. They’ve totally transformed the place, many finding themselves transformed by such meaningful engagement."
Pairs of offenders have worked at the site for more than a year, but during the past few months teams of up to 11 - supervised by Elaine and Gorton Horticultural Society member John Steadman - have cleared tonnes of overgrowth, planted bulbs and have built the poultry housing and laid paths.
The project has also inspired Greater Manchester Police to donate fertiliser taken from cannabis "factories" closed down in the city, while regular supplies of manure have been donated by the nearby EST Donkey Centre that works with disabled children.
Elaine, a mum-of-five, said: "When offenders first began here you couldn’t even see the bank. They’ve worked so hard and so well, I’m very proud of them.
"I believe everyone deserves a second chance. One of my sons got into trouble but managed to turn his life around. These lads are no different and reward the trust we invest in them enormously."
An offender added: "To tell you the truth, I thought Community Payback would be ‘name and shame’ and it’d be terrible, but I’ve had an amazing time.
"I’ve grown to really respect John, Elaine and David, and enjoy working alongside the lads. I’ve been out of work for many years, but this – trying to achieve something – has given me motivation to try to get a job. I also want an allotment."
Community Payback Cleans-up Piccadilly
Community payback teams have carried out a major clean-up in
Piccadilly
Gardens and in streets around Piccadily station as part of a pioneering new scheme.
The teams are offenders serving a community order with a requirement to carry out high profile work that benefits local communities.
The work involved clearing out behind junction boxes, under and around street furniture and behind grilled or recessed parts of buildings. They also cleared out tree pits and tree guards and removed stickers, flyposting and graffiti. The work was done in
Canal Street ,
Store Street and
Sparkle Street around Piccadilly Station and in
Piccadilly
Gardens
Cityco,
Manchester’s city centre management company is co-ordinating the community payback campaign with Manchester City Council and the Greater Manchester Probation Trust. There are plans for the scheme to be rolled out to other open spaces in the centre and eventually across the entire city. Businesses, residents and partner agencies of the groups involved will be consulted to determine areas where the teams should work.
And eventually it’s hoped that people serving community these orders will be offered training in planning and assessment and business administration skills and in some cases may be offered work placements.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services said: “The community payback team will be able to carry out a thorough cleaning of Piccadilly Gardens reaching those areas which can’t routinely be cleaned.
“This is worthwhile work which will benefit everyone who visits, works or lives in the area and will provide meaningful work experience for those serving community sentences."
Gordon Reid, Chief Executive of Cityco added, “
Piccadilly
Gardens is one of the most visited areas in the city and this initiative is going to help further enhance that location as an attractive and welcoming space.
“We are confident that the scheme will be a success, so much so that we are already considering plans to roll out the programme to other areas of the city centre.”
Caroline Edwards, Community Payback Manager, said: "A supervisor and teams of between six to eight offenders worked on the scheme, cleaning, picking up litter and removing glass from the area. Following this pilot, we will be meeting with the partnership organisations to discuss further projects."
Community Payback Cultivates Team Work in
Wythenshawe
Park
Manchester’s pioneering community payback teams have been working alongside local groups to carry out a major refurbishment of the horticultural centre at
Wythenshawe
Park.
The teams, wearing high visibility community payback vests, have been working in the glass houses. With the support of the Friends of Wythenshawe Park Horticultural Centre, they have been painting, planting, refurbishing the water features and installing an information point in the old potting sheds.
A new Environment Factory is also being created where local schoolchildren can get hands on experience of horticulture, growing plants and learning about composting and the environment.
Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure, Councillor Mike Amesbury said: "The horticultural centre is an asset to the park and provides a valuable resource to local schools and the wider community. This work has made the centre even more attractive and accessible to local people."
Ian McDougal, Park Warden, says: ‘We couldn’t have done this work without the Community Payback teams and the huge contribution from the many other groups committed to improving this area of the park. We hope this will be a popular attraction for the children of Wythenshawe and further afield, encouraging them to learn about cultivation and the environment."
Caroline Edwards, Probation's Community Payback Manager in
Manchester, said: "A minimum of six offenders have worked in the park six days per week totalling 10,000 Community Payback hours over six months. The offenders are constantly learning new skills and working as part of a team to improve their employability, with the communities benefiting from the work they have completed when they visit the park grounds. Community Payback are delighted with the feedback from the park wardens and the friends of
Wythenshawe
Park and will be continuing to work in the park in the future."
Much of the funding for the re-vamp has been donated by the Friends of Wythenshawe Horticultural Centre either by contributing from their own funds or securing money from local cash grants.
Residents and Offenders Work Together During Crumpsall Clean-up
Residents joined forces with a community payback team to clean up the Lion Brook area of Crumpsall.
During a two-day operation, residents and offenders worked side by side to drag rubbish and waste from the brook.
The work was completed in Crumpsall as part of Manchester City Council's Proud Of Campaign and follows consultations between the council and local people.
Under the community payback scheme residents are being encouraged to nominate work they think should be carried out by offenders. To nominate work you can go to www.gm-probation.org.uk where there is a link to community payback and a nomination form, or telephone the Manchester Community Payback office on 0161 224 0231.
Manchester City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Jim Battle said: “By working together the residents and the community payback team have made a significant improvement to this area. It shows just what can be achieved through teamwork.”
Diane Sefton, Community Payback Officer, said: “The project has gone really well, the offenders, working with residents, have made a massive difference to the area.”
Caroline Edwards, Community Payback Manager, added: “This is one of many Crime and Disorder respect project's that Manchester Community Payback teams will be working on throughout the city over the next 12 months, taking on various types of clean up projects to improve communities for Manchester's residents and visitors.”
The Proud Of Manchester campaign aims to recognise the positive aspects of living in
Manchester’s neighbourhoods, encourage sustainability and reward good citizenship. It is a year-long campaign themed around the four seasons with the launch organised to coincide with the start of spring. Throughout the year, various activities have been planned around looking after yourself, caring for your neighbours and your neighbourhoods and helping to ensure your community provides a bright future for the next generation. The campaign also encourages communities, residents’ associations, schools, youth groups, older people’s groups and other organisations to arrange their own events and activities.
