Highfields Sports Club - Grassed Area

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Hockey club benefits from offender payback

The entrance gates to Beeston Hockey Club in Nottingham had been in a state of disrepair for 15 years with chances of improvement looking unlikely. With help from the Community Payback scheme however, the gates are now fixed and fully functioning and are just one of a number of enhancements to the well-used facility.

Teams of offenders work at the sports club on a regular basis carrying out a variety of jobs including hedge cutting, litter picking, and painting and decorating. They have even returned on a voluntary basis to act as safety marshals at a club firework display.

Graham Griffiths, General Manager at Highfields Sports Club, of which Beeston Hockey Club is a part, says it is one of the best and most worthwhile projects he’s seen in forty years!

“The Community Payback teams have been so good. They value and take ownership of the work they are given and also show a lot of respect for their supervisor.

“We thoroughly enjoy working with Probation, everyone has joined together to get jobs done and it’s worked really well. I think it’s great for the people on the Payback scheme to be able to see a project through from start to finish – it gives a boost to their self-esteem.”

Mark Taylor, Nottinghamshire Probation Trust's Local delivery Unit Director with responsibility for Community Payback said: "We've developed a really positive working relationship with Highfields Sports Club and are very pleased to be able to help. The free labour resource offered by Community Payback has allowed work which may not have been done to progress and be completed to a high standard. Our ongoing maintenance work here is very visible and makes a big difference to people using the sports facilities."