In Partnership with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

 

Most Friday evenings see a group of young people from the YOT attending reparation sessions at fire stations across north and south Kirklees. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue are a long standing partner of the YOT and offer the benefit of their first hand experience of the consequences of offences involving firestarting and car crime.

The young people attending sessions here have usually been involved in offences such as arson or dangerous driving and they are structured to address the likely outcome of these using interactive group work involving discussion based around relevant video footage.  Following on from this young people undertake reparation that may take a number of forms as shown in the photos above.  During recent sessions young people have helped by washing fire service vehicles and also by going out into areas identified as hotspots to deliver a variety of fire safety leaflets. Some of these leaflets are shown above.

On the basis that two of the YOT’s main aims are to address offending behaviour and to redress harm caused to communities through reparation, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service are an invaluable resource

Restorative Justice in the News

BBC News - Restorative Justice

Not Kirklees but an interesting story involving restorative justice and empowering victims. Click on the BBC News link above for the full details

An Update From Marsden Moor

Young people sometimes don’t get the recognition they have earned for work that has been done.  The National trust newsletter highlights the positive work that young people do whilst carrying out reparation at Marsden Moor.  Cotton grass planting is one of the many and varied tasks undertaken that  benefits the community and local environment.  Much of this work is done side by side with volunteers and other community groups.

A Sign of the Times

Our partnership with the National Trust on Marsden Moor Estate goes from strength to strength as can be seen from their newly signwritten Citroen Berlingo that incorporates not only their logo but the YOT logo too.  Alison Mills, Community Warden for the National Trust says “We think it looks great and definitely gets people looking”.  I think it’s safe to say we agree and are mightily impressed!!

R.J Goes Potty!!

The Restorative Justice Team are constantly looking for ways to work creatively with young people to help them repair the harm they have caused by their offending.

Recently, a small group of young people have worked together at the Youth Offending Team office to create the pots pictured above.  The work involved painstakingly hand decorating them with small pieces of glass and ceramic mosaic tile over a period of three evenings.

The young people will shortly be planting the pots with bulbs and taking them to the Age UK Day Care Centre at Bradley.  This session at the day care centre will not only incorporate handing the finished articles over but will also involve them helping to prepare and serve meals to the elderly service users and other activities.

Huddersfield Examiner 1/2/11 - National Trust Press Release

A mention in the local press about the YOT's work with the National Trust at Marsden Moor

Positive Feedback From Young People

Central Stars (previously Project D), based in Huddersfield, is an invaluable resource providing a youth club for disabled children in Kirklees. We at the YOT are fortunate enough to access the club to enable young people to carry out reparation the benefits of which are many.

As well as putting something positive, constructive and meaningful back into the community it helps greatly to break down any barriers or misconceptions about those with disabilities.

At the end of a series of sessions young people who have carried out reparation reflect on their experience and complete a feedback form to put their thoughts down on paper.  Above is just such a form completed by a young person who recently went to Central Stars and found it extremely positive experience