In a first for the East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership the Friends of Brierfield Station have been working with young people who have been placed on Community Reparation Orders. Members of the friends group worked alongside the young people to help maintain the garden areas at Brierfield Station. 

The day was a great success and Christine Taylor, Restorative Justice Co-ordinator with the Burnley & Pendle Youth Offending Team said; “The feedback I have received has been very positive and it would be excellent if we could now link in with you in order to carry out reparation at other stations throughout Burnely & Pendle.”

Community reparation is unpaid work which benefits charities and the community as a whole. It has to be work that would not otherwise be done, as the aim – as well as being a means of punishment – is to give young people a chance to give back to the community. Ideally, the young people should be involved in activities from which they can take pride in a job well done.

Projects can range from clearing public spaces to decorating community centres or helping with local charitable groups. Community Reparation is an opportunity for young people who have offended to:

• Resolve conflict and repair harm
• Give victim satisfaction
• Engages the young person
• Raises public confidence
• Prevent re-offending
• Re-integrate back into the community.
• Raise self-esteem

Reparation is also a good way for communities and other agencies to work together to reduce offending behaviour.

Richard Watts, Partnership Secretary for the East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership said; “The Lancashire Community Rail Partnerships are pleased to be working with the Youth Offending Team and look forward to working withthem at other stations along the line soon.”