Bowsland Green Primary School reaps benefits of Community Payback

Community Payback service users at work in the grounds of Bowsland Green Primary School, Bradley Stoke.

Since the start of 2015, Community Payback teams have been carrying out work at Bowsland Green Primary School in Bradley Stoke.

Community Payback work is organised through the Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset & Wiltshire Community Rehabilitation Company (formerly Avon & Somerset Probation Trust). The project sees individuals who have been sentenced to anything from 40 to 300 hours court orders completing work in the local community.

Teams of around eight service users working under the supervision of Mike Scott (placement manager) have been carrying out on-going painting, decorating and grounds improvement work, both internally and externally within the school grounds.

A member of the teaching staff, Wendy Collins said:

“We are delighted to have the Community Payback team helping us to improve the environment. The impact that they have already had has been fantastic. The team has repainted the entrance hall, which has since been re-carpeted. This sets a great first impression to all the visitors to the school – many have commented that it feels like entering a new school! Repainting the classrooms has had a really positive effect on the children as we are always stressing the importance of taking pride in all that we do.”

“As part of the improvements to the school grounds, the team has removed broken and unwanted sheds, fencing and flower beds, making the outside space look tidier and far more inviting for our children to use as well as visitors to the school.”

“Moving into the spring season, we plan to further develop the school grounds with the Community Payback team, as the staff, parents and most importantly the children are really benefiting from the hard work the team are putting in and we are very grateful.”

Supervisor Mike Scott commented:

“The team has really embraced the work at Bowsland Green Primary School. Such tasks create worthwhile challenges for individuals as well as the team as a whole. Work has been carried out at a higher standard as all of the team understand who benefit from their efforts. We look forward to working with the school for some time, being part of on-going improvements.”

If you would like to nominate a project for the Community Payback team to carry out, please get in touch by emailing christian.matthews@bgsw.probation.gsi.gov.uk

This article originally appeared in the April 2015 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.

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