Community Life

Lord Hunt, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, and members of his staff volunteered to work on a Community Payback project for a day, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of what offenders do when they serve a community sentence.

They helped with the renovation and restoration of a 100-year-old scout hut in Northolt West End, Middlesex. The project is an example of unpaid work that will directly benefit the local community, as the scout hut is used for a variety of youth and community activities.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE

The restoration work involved clearing the hut and surrounding grounds, repainting, and general maintenance.

The day offered an opportunity for Lord Hunt and his colleagues to see the start of a lengthy and committed Community Payback Project.

The scout hut renovation project is also a prime example of how Community Payback works in practice, as the project involves a number of key partners which include Probation, the Police and the local authority.

The work involves clearing the site, cleaning, repainting (and pre-painting preparation), clearing the grounds and repairing the boundary fence.

About Community Payback

Community service was launched over 30 years ago and the London Probation Service says it has been one of its most successful projects.

Communities have benefited from millions of pounds worth of unpaid work over the years.

Now it is asking local people to have a say in the sort of work offenders carry out. It wants them to nominate projects, see them completed and know that offenders have done something to pay back for their crimes.