Vegetables grown through community service garden project helps charities feed Moray families
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VEGETABLES grown by people carrying out community service have helped families in need around Moray.
The positive impact of community payback orders in Moray have been highlighted in Community Justice Scotland’s latest report.
In Moray, produce grown by unpaid work teams as part of community payback orders is donated to charities who help those in need including Moray Food Plus, The Bow Café and Big Blue Bus Moray.
Teams also carried out work at the New Elgin Community Garden including repairing fencing and a gate and also helped restore raised garden beds at The Oaks palliative care centre in Elgin so that patients could use them to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. They also cleared moss from pathways so patients could safely walk about the area.
Other work in the community has included grass cutting, removals, painting, fence building, gardening, path clearing and moving and assembling sheds and picnic benches.
Sandra Kennedy from Moray Food Plus, said: “We are grateful for the help we receive from the unpaid work teams. They have enabled us to increase our growing capacity and grow more fresh produce to support the wider Moray community. This produce is distributed to several other local charities and also to rural areas on our Big Blue Mobile Pantry.”
Various projects were highlighted in the new annual Community Payback Order report 2022-2023 which has recently been published by Community Justice Scotland. Areas across Scotland have been transformed by 1.3 million hours of unpaid work completed over the year and people carrying out CPOs have been held to account and supported to reconnect and contribute to their communities.
Victoria Guthrie, an improvement lead with Community Justice Scotland, said: “Community Payback Orders allow people to repay harm caused and access the support and services they need within their own communities to address the drivers of their offending.
“Justice social work and other partners, involved in supporting individuals to complete their community sentences, have remained dedicated and diligent despite financial and resource challenges. They’ve ensured services address individual needs, which helps to reduce the risk of reoffending and creates a safer Scotland for all. Unpaid work has transformed different areas and supported those in need, making a meaningful impact on communities across the country.”
Ainya Taylor, Community Justice Coordinator for Moray, said: “Unpaid work offers people the opportunity to gain new skills and experiences, whilst giving back to their community. In turn, our communities benefit from the projects undertaken by those participating in unpaid work.
“We understand how vital it can be in restoring and strengthening our communities, as well as in supporting individuals in their rehabilitation. In Moray, we are proud of the work which has been completed and of the personal growth for those involved.”
