A new project been has launched in East Sussex to help offenders break the cycle of offending and give something back to the community.
For two hours, once a week, people that are working with Surrey & Sussex Probation Trust, through the Integrated Offender Management Team (IOM), change their daily routine and help out at community allotments.
IOM was launched in East Sussex a year ago and brings together all agencies responsible for the safety of our community and helps them to jointly reduce crime, improve public confidence and tackle the social exclusion of offenders and their families.
Working with the IOM team offenders will be faced with a tough coordinated response from the police, probation and other services while they work to tackle the problems which lead to their criminal activity.
Councillor David Elkin, Lead Member for Children's and Adults' Services, said: ‘Research has shown that both being outdoors and horticulture can improve mental health, lift people's moods and raise self-esteem. Many offenders working with the Integrated Offender Management team need someone to show them that by changing their daily routine of offending and committing their time to something positive, they will see results.'
The allotments have been set up by Common Cause, in Lewes, who work in a variety of ways to promote the local economy by supporting sustainable farming, access to local foods and the opportunity for the local community to be involved in growing food. The offenders working with Common Cause are doing a good turn by giving their time to help manage the allotment and community orchard. In return they are gaining skills and will also be given the opportunity to visit and work on commercial farms.
Probation Officer, Lynda Lynch, said: ‘Working with the offenders when they are taken out of their usual routine is rewarding. The organisation and determination that they have, to be involved and to commit themselves to a good cause, shows that with a little assistance, many of them have got what it takes to break the cycle of offending.'
An offender working with the IOM team added: "I benefitted from going out and meeting up with other people. It was about realising what you can do and knowing you can do it with support, not feeling freaked out by it and gaining confidence and I found it can be therapeutic, especially in the rain!"
IOM was launched in East Sussex a year ago and brings together all agencies responsible for the safety of our community and helps them to jointly reduce crime, improve public confidence and tackle the social exclusion of offenders and their families.
Working with the IOM team offenders will be faced with a tough coordinated response from the police, probation and other services while they work to tackle the problems which lead to their criminal activity.
Councillor David Elkin, Lead Member for Children's and Adults' Services, said: ‘Research has shown that both being outdoors and horticulture can improve mental health, lift people's moods and raise self-esteem. Many offenders working with the Integrated Offender Management team need someone to show them that by changing their daily routine of offending and committing their time to something positive, they will see results.'
The allotments have been set up by Common Cause, in Lewes, who work in a variety of ways to promote the local economy by supporting sustainable farming, access to local foods and the opportunity for the local community to be involved in growing food. The offenders working with Common Cause are doing a good turn by giving their time to help manage the allotment and community orchard. In return they are gaining skills and will also be given the opportunity to visit and work on commercial farms.
Probation Officer, Lynda Lynch, said: ‘Working with the offenders when they are taken out of their usual routine is rewarding. The organisation and determination that they have, to be involved and to commit themselves to a good cause, shows that with a little assistance, many of them have got what it takes to break the cycle of offending.'
An offender working with the IOM team added: "I benefitted from going out and meeting up with other people. It was about realising what you can do and knowing you can do it with support, not feeling freaked out by it and gaining confidence and I found it can be therapeutic, especially in the rain!"
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