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



Damage Repaired in Mirfield

Criminal damage is a common problem for many schools and Mirfield Free Grammar School was a recent victim when a young person who we shall call “Kyle” picked up and threw a wooden planter causing irreparable damage to it. 

After being given a three month ‘Reparation Order’ at Dewsbury Youth Court, Kyle attended a number of weekend sessions at the National Childrens Centre in Huddersfield.  Working there in the wood workshop, Kyle produced a brand new planter from scratch. He then went to the YOT’s own allotment plot where it was filled with soil and plants.

Since then the planter has been presented to the school and the picture below shows it in situ.