Offenders completing Community Payback have been helping to maintain Fort Cumberland, an 18th-century coastal fortress in Portsmouth, carrying out grounds maintenance and conservation work to protect the historic site and keep it safe for visitors.
Community Payback is the delivery of unpaid work requirements ordered by courts as part of a community sentence, ensuring people on probation repay their debt to society by helping the communities they have harmed.
Supervisor's View
Gary Woods, 60, a Community Payback Supervisor in Portsmouth, has worked in the Probation Service for almost nine years and says the project stands out as one of the most unique he has overseen.
He said:
Fort Cumberland is one of the most significant heritage sites in the area, so having the opportunity to take Community Payback teams there was something really special.
It's hard work but it makes a genuine difference. By helping maintain the site, the teams were supporting a historic attraction and helping preserve an important part of our local history.
Historic England Partnership
Pauline Simpkins, Estates and Facilities Management Director at Historic England, said:
We are pleased to be a key partner in this excellent initiative, demonstrating how Community Payback can make a practical contribution to caring for and protecting our historic environment, while helping people to develop new skills, confidence and a sense of achievement.
Giving Something Back
Gary believes projects like Fort Cumberland show Community Payback at its best.
He said:
The offenders completing the work could see the impact they were having straight away. At the end of the day, they were able to look back at what they'd achieved and feel proud of the contribution they had made.
That's what Community Payback should be about. It's not just about completing hours. It's about giving something back and leaving a place better than you found it.
In the last year, Community Payback teams have helped transform neighbourhoods across England and Wales, from maintaining schools and community centres to improving green spaces and protecting historic sites.
Alongside the benefits delivered to local organisations, the projects can also help offenders develop teamwork, confidence and practical skills.
The Supervisor Role
On his role as a Supervisor, Gary added:
No two days are the same. One day you could be helping improve a school and the next you could be working at a historic fort.
If you enjoy working with people, being outdoors and seeing the difference your work makes, Community Payback is an incredibly rewarding role.
More information can be found on the Prison and Probation Jobs website.
