NCJA welcomes additional Community Service funding

Issued by the NCJA

The Northern Community Justice Authority (NCJA) has welcomed additional funding to help deliver Community Service sentences faster and more efficiently. The Scottish Government has announced that the justice authority will get an additional £172,604 as part of a £1.5million national funding boost.

The additional cash will be used across the NCJA area to deliver more efficient Community Service.

There are already many good examples of effective Community Service projects across the seven local authorities in the NCJA - Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray, Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands.

Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire work together to maximise their use of Community Service. Examples include the creation of a new woodland area with trees, footpaths and a natural play area for children at Portlethen.

The scheme has also helped link the north and south of the town by reopening a footpath beside Portlethen Church.

In Highland, the Alness Community Service Scheme has introduced an excellent work programme to help offenders learn new skills, enhance their self esteem and, most importantly, to ensure that they make restitution to their communities.   As well as working for the community, the Alness project has raised in excess of £17,000 for local charities. 

Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, is planning to visit a number of sites across Scotland during the summer and hopefully he will be able to see some of the exciting work carried out across the NCJA area.

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