Community Payback in Tameside
Offenders Help Cricket Club
COMMUNITY Payback has helped hit Houghton Cricket Club’s woes for six after clearing the outfield of weeds, laying drainage and painting the changing rooms.
The team, which can trace its history back to 1883, has been playing at the ground off Mancunian Way, Denton, for generations.
But over the years weeds measuring up to six feet had encroached up to the boundary rope, the pitch frequently got water-logged and the facilities were in desperate need of a lick of paint.As a result, the club – now the last in Denton – had falling numbers and struggled to field two teams a week.
However, a year ago club chairman John Egan called in help from Tameside’s Community Payback, and now the ground is in top shape.
He said: "Conditions got so bad the league criticised us, every time someone crashed a four or six players were spending five to 10 minutes searching for balls in the undergrowth so that games weren’t finishing on time.
"We once lost 15 balls in a game, at £6 a ball it was bankrupting us. Neighbours also complained about the weeds, but there was nothing we could do as we hadn’t got the manpower to maintain the area, nor did we have the equipment.
"Now, thanks to Community Payback, it’s looking fantastic, and the drains they have laid mean that a decent shot gets the reward it deserves because the outfield is much faster."
Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law, rigorously supervised and enforced by probation. It is also a way for offenders to make up to the community for the harm they have done.
Offenders have also painted a large container and railings at the ground, as well as decorated the changing rooms.
John said: "The offenders have made a mega difference to this club. We now have 35 players on the books, we’ve got sponsorship and the league is playing extra games here.
"We are also getting increasing numbers of spectators and there’s a lovely feel about the place.
"I think it’s a great way for offenders to be paying back to the community. They were digging trenches and laying drains during heavy rain, it was hard work. I’m not interested in what they’ve done. When I meet them we have a good crack."
The club currently fields two teams in the Greater Manchester Amateur Cricket League divisions, and John hopes the improved facilities will help them launch a juniour team.
Carron Upton is Community Payback Officer at Tameside, which is part of the Greater Manchester Probation Trust.
She said: "Offenders working here have done exceptionally well. We can tell they have taken to the work as compliance is good.
"Some of the work has been really tough, such as widening existing drains around the boundary and laying a new system to improve the outfield.
"We will continue to help the club, and are delighted that the work is helping the community to enjoy the facility."
Offenders Improve Denton's Hope Church
Offenders have worked at cutting back overgrowth and decorating at Hope Church in
Denton.
During the project, which started in January, shrubs were cut back to improve the car park, and painting was carried out inside the church.
So far offenders, supervised by Tameside’s Community Payback Team, have completed 350 hours of work.
Judy Hooker, church elder at Hope Church, in
Stockport Road, contacted the team after seeing an advert in the Tameside Advertiser describing community sentences.
She said: “We are all absolutely thrilled by the work being done.
“The overgrowth in the car park hadn’t been touched for 20 years, and they dug tree roots out and have made a tremendous difference.
“We then asked if they could decorate one of our buildings because we were unable to afford to get it done any other way. The work is of a high standard and we all really appreciate it.”
Carron Upton, Community Payback Supervisor, said she was delighted by the partnership with the church.
She added: “Offenders have been paying back to the community against which they offended, but also through the hard work they have completed they have been able to take pride in it.
”It means a lot to them to be told that what they have done is appreciated and to see members of the public benefit from their work.”
