Serving the Community in Shetland

The efforts of unpaid work squads are helping keep a vibrant community hub in Shetland spick and span.

The Carnegie Hall, in the heart of Sandwick, in Shetland’s South Mainland, hosts a variety of local groups and regularly welcomes audiences for concerts and other events.

Over recent years, groups of people sentenced by courts to undertake a Community Payback Order have carried out a number of projects contributing to the upkeep of the popular venue.

Most recently that has included the restoration of a traditional drystane dyke beside the building that had fallen into disrepair. And in the new year, when the venue’s busy schedule of events permits, a squad will be there to carry out internal painting.

Julie Halcrow, Community Payback Officer with Shetland Islands Council, who co-ordinates the work, said: “Carnegie Hall has a very active committee who we have been working closely with for some time.

“It’s great that people carrying out unpaid work can make a real contribution to the local community by doing a whole variety of jobs needed for the hall’s upkeep.

“Most recently that has involved someone using their skills to repair the drystane dyke and we’re looking forward to returning to carry out the painting work when the committee sees a window of opportunity”

People sentenced by courts to undertake unpaid work as part of a Community Payback Order are given a specified number of hours to complete, which should have a focus on reparation and provide a clear tangible benefit to the community.

As part of the sentence, they may also be required to take responsibility for their own behaviour by spending time on developing interpersonal, educational and vocational skills that help address the causes of their offending.

More than 11.6 million hours of unpaid work have been completed in Scotland through Community Payback Orders since their introduction in 2011, contributing significantly to communities throughout Scotland.

Management and supervision of people performing unpaid work is carried out by the justice social work departments of local authorities.

Gemma Fraser, Head of Insights and Intelligence at Community Justice Scotland (CJS), the public body responsible for promoting and supporting the use of community-based sentences, said: “Unpaid work as part of a Community Payback Order is a much more person-focused approach to give back to the community where offending has happened compared to other sentencing options.

“Most of the people will deliver the unpaid work in the community they live in, across a wide range of projects identified by the communities themselves.

“With more than 11.6 million hours of unpaid work carried out to date, these projects are of enormous value to communities, providing tangible local benefits as well as helping develop skills among those involved.”