Report highlights Community Payback and Justice contributions to Highland localities.

Two reports presented to The Highland Council’s Health Social Care and Wellbeing Committee have highlighted numerous activities that have benefited Highland communities.

Councillors noted and welcomed the Community Payback Order Annual Report and the Highland Community Justice Partnership Annual Report – both for the year 2022/23.

Chair of the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee, Cllr David Fraser said: “The Council and partners are working hard to help people turn their lives around, to gain new skills and confidence to enable them to avoid reoffending while making a positive contribution to their local communities. I commend all the hard work of Council officers and partners and the third sector organisations for their support and concerted efforts to help facilitate these opportunities for positive change.”

Payback contributions being made to local communities which were mainly funded by Scottish Government were delivered through the Highland Justice Service which delivers a range of work with offenders covering diversion from prosecution, bail supervision, electronically monitored bail, and community payback orders.

The types of unpaid work projects carried out covered a wide range of tasks and the benefits of the works reached various organisations and the public. A large percentage undertook gardening or landscaping (69%) and the other activities ranging from 6% joinery up to 15% decorating.

Charity shops such as Highland Hospice, and Sue Ryder provided placements such as sorting out donations of goods for sale in the shops, and cleaning and till duties.

Outdoor work activities such as gardening/labouring and painting benefitted the Muir of Ord Rovers, the Church of Scotland and Harbour Trust in Ullapool, Thurso Grows community group, Alness Community Council Environmental Group and Seaboard Community Polytunnel Group to name but a few examples.

Highland Council also provided various community payback placements where grit bins were filled to help with winter road and footpath maintenance and general gardening and grounds maintenance around sheltered housing and other locations. Various schools at Dingwall, Strathpeffer, Thurso and play areas at Keiss and Wick saw improvements made by community payback orders.

Feedback from the people undertaking the community payback orders showed that over 95% confirmed that they felt it was worthwhile, 40% commented that they had made a personal achievement and learnt new skills and 45% of respondents believed their new skills would aid them in job hunting. In addition, respondents felt more positive, confident, and 54%, felt motivated and work better as part of a team from their experience.

Councillors also noted and welcomed some of the highlights of the Highland Community Justice Partnership Annual Report for 2022/23.

Highlighting how the Partnership works better together to help prevent offending and reduce reoffending – the report provides examples of successful partnership working such as:

• a Community Justice Conference held in March 2023;
• creation of a toolkit for the Third Sector organisations interested in working with people on Community Payback Order or unpaid work;
• the Custody Link Worker Project which works with clients on a one-to-one basis to help them identify their individual issues;
• Café 1668 in Inverness providing a warm and safe place for all within the city centre and for those who are vulnerable including free meals to those in need and a community food larder.

Both the Community Payback Order Annual Report and the Highland Community Justice Partnership Annual Report for 2023 can be viewed on the Council’s website.