Each year, offenders are sentenced to carry out 60,000 hours of unpaid work in Hertfordshire. Based on minimum wage, this equates to almost £300,000 of free labour that is provided to the community. Offenders can be sentenced to up to 300 hours of compulsory unpaid work.

The probation service welcomes offers of unpaid work placements on suitable projects. Our unpaid work team will assess the project for suitability and for health and safety implications. A team of offenders will then be assigned to the project and this team will work all day.  In some cases, offenders will complete one to one projects, for example, a placement in a charity shop.

Typical projects include gardening, landscaping, painting and decorating and minor building maintenance. The offenders will also need to use problem solving skills as well as practical skills to complete the projects.

Each team is overseen at all times by a supervisor. The offenders must turn up on time and must not miss a session without an acceptable reason. Whilst on the placement they must behave well and work hard.

In recent years, projects have been carried out in places of worship, community centres, schools and residential homes. We welcome offers of work placements although there are a number of criteria.

Placements must be:

• For the community, not individual benefit (there may be some limited exceptions)
• For not-for-profit organisations
• Not a replacement for paid labour (ie they must not replace a current paid work force)
• In addition, the cost of materials must be supplied by the beneficiary

To suggest a project, please contact 01438 747074 or email us now with details of your project.