Mental Health Support in Hambleton and Richmondshire has praised offenders working on Community Payback for their help in clearing its gardens in Northallerton.

Mental Health Support (MHS) recently requested the help of HLNY CRC to carry out a Community Payback project in its gardens to clear old plant beds and replace them with raised beds which services users could use to grow vegetables.

MHS aims to support people with mental health problems. The support offered by MHS is welcoming, practical and focused on the individual. It believes that people’s experiences of mental health problems are invaluable in the contributions they can make to improving theirs and other people’s well-being.

Kerry Bass, occupational therapist at Mental Health Support, said: “The team on Community Payback have worked hard over the last few weeks in helping us to realise our vision for the Garden Gang area.

“We received a grant from the People’s Postcode Lottery towards our vision and with the help of HNLY CRC and their service users we have been able to create this garden space in such a short space of time.”

Community Payback in North Yorkshire is managed by HLNY CRC in partnership with several organisations and aims to rehabilitate offenders through working on projects that benefit the community.

Mrs Bass said: “Over the last few weeks, those on Community Payback have worked incredibly hard, whilst maintaining a respectful attitude with staff and service users. They have used the facilities respectfully, appropriately and followed instruction from supervisor Ian correctly to create the space we wanted.”

“Over the last few weeks, those on Community Payback have worked incredibly hard, whilst maintaining a respectful attitude with staff and service users”

Joe Murphy, unpaid work 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. In this project, they have made a real contribution to the local community and those struggling with mental health problems.”

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.

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