Warwickshire News Mine

The county council-led partnership is updating its ‘Reparation Directory’, which lists dozens of unpaid projects that 10 to 17-year-olds can carry out to pay back for the harm they have done, either directly to the victim or indirectly through countywide projects.

These orders are known as Reparation orders – part of Restorative Justice – which can include mediation between victims and offenders and their family, or community conferences.

The restorative approach confronts and disapproves of offending and supports the young person to make amends while realising the effects of what they have done.

Currently there are 30 projects in the Youth Justice Service’s Reparation Directory ranging from helping with the upkeep of allotments and clearing graffiti, to conservation and citizenship.

Now the team is inviting residents to suggest new projects that they feel would benefit the community.

Heather Shilling, Operations Manager (Interventions) for the Youth Justice Service, said: “The reparation programme has two aims – the first is to help the young person understand the consequences to their crime and make up for what they’ve done, while the second is to learn new skills that help them become positive members of the community once again.

“Over the last few years we’ve been involved in many successful projects such as creating artwork for a canal bridge in Rugby, organising graffiti removal days in towns such as Leamington and Atherstone, and creating a sensory garden for people with learning difficulties.

“However, we’re looking to up date our reparation catalogue and are inviting the local community to suggest projects they think would be beneficial to everyone.“

To find out more information about the Warwickshire Youth Justice Service or to suggest new projects for consideration in the directory, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/yot.

Link to WCC