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Article Date:	12/02/2010
Article Title:	Mayor gives support to Community Payback scheme
The Mayor of Mansfield, Tony Egginton, has given his backing to a project which will see offenders making amends for their crimes by giving hundreds of hours of free labour to the community. Mayor Egginton launched the Mayoral Community Payback project in Ravensdale Plantations, Mansfield - in a unique partnership between the Mayor’s office and Nottinghamshire Probation Area. The chosen project will see the transformation of Ravensdale Plantations – currently an overgrown long, landscaped strip of land between a main road and an access road. The plantations are bordered by a steep natural sandstone ivy-covered bank and an area of overgrown shrubs, trees and old privet. Groups of offenders on Community Payback will revamp the area by: Removing litter and discarded items from the shrubbery   Cutting back trees   Clearing ivy and overgrown foliage Offenders working on this project have been sentenced by the courts and will be supervised by Probation staff. Mayor Egginton said: "I am delighted to be associated with the Mayor’s Community Payback project. It is important that offenders pay back to communities in a visible way. Once complete this will be a wonderful asset for the people of the area, and somewhere that residents can enjoy for many years to come." Mark Taylor, Director for Mansfield and Ashfield (Nottinghamshire Probation Area) said: ‘Community Payback is just one of the sentences made by the Court as part of a community order, but it is the most visible and directly beneficial to communities. "As well as carrying out the work, offenders have the opportunity to improve their basic skills and gain qualifications which can help them get work. "Offenders working in the community are also carefully assessed to ensure members of the public are not put at risk." We are very happy to be working with the Mayor and Mansfield District Council to help improve the area for everyone". Learn more about Community Payback here     For more information please contact Lindsay Narey, Communications Officer for Nottinghamshire Probation Area on 0115 8406497 or email lindsay.narey@nottinghamshire.probation.gsi.gov.uk