Greater Manchester Probation Trust

Community Payback is a scheme run by the Probation Service nationally.

Every year across the country local communities benefit from over 5 million hours of community payback work carried out by offenders under probation supervision.

In Greater Manchester alone over 500,000 hours are completed by offenders annually.  This work often goes unnoticed, but the public of Greater Manchester can play a greater part in deciding on the kind of work they would like to see offenders carry out.

If you have a scheme or project which you think would be suitable as a Community Payback project , please complete our nomination form.

Projects undertaken by offenders that have been of benefit to local communities in Greater Manchester include litter clearance, graffiti removal, repairing and redecorating community centres and environmental work such as maintaining public open spaces and churchyards. Offenders usually work as part of a team, monitored by a supervisor. There are some opportunities for individual placements.

All projects combine hard work and the chance for the offender to develop important life skills. They help to reduce the risk of re-offending and so make our communities safer. It is also a punishment as the offender is giving up their freedom to carry out work which  pays back the community for their crime. Offenders must  wear orange high-visibility jackets, marked Community Payback, so that the public can see what offenders are doing to  pay back.

Justice Seen, Justice Done Campaign