Residents in York have benefited from the work carried out by offenders working on a Community Payback project to help clean footpaths in Askham Bryan.

City of York Council recently requested the help of Humberside, Lincolnshire & North Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company (HLNY CRC) to carry out a Community Payback project on the area. Offenders worked to clear the thoroughfares of undergrowth, tidying up vegetation and cutting back the grass.

Community Payback in York is managed by HLNY CRC in partnership with several organisations including City of York Council, and aims to rehabilitate offenders through working on projects that benefit the community.

Local resident Jennifer Mitchell said: “They did a marvellous job round village and making it much pleasanter for all our residents and on their behalf we are very grateful. Many thanks to everyone who worked on this project.”

“They did a marvellous job round village and making it much pleasanter for all our residents and on their behalf we are very grateful. Many thanks to everyone who worked on this project”

Chris Long, placement coordinator at HLNY CRC, said: “Community Payback is a punishment for breaking the law but it is also a way for those on probation to learn new skills and to support their rehabilitation. The team have learned some important new skills which will help in their rehabilitation.”

The Community Payback scheme works across a wide range of projects in the community in North Yorkshire renovating community gardens, parks, church yards and schools.

Martin Davies, chief executive of HLNY CRC, said: “Community Payback schemes like the one delivered in Askham Bryan provide a means by which people on probation learn new skills to support their future employment prospects and can be seen to be making a positive contribution to society and the community in which they live as part of their rehabilitation.”

The Community Payback Team at HLNY CRC would like to hear about other projects which residents think will make a real difference to their community. You can nominate project here