Youth offenders serving a community punishment court order have begun giving  Weir Estate’s newly repaired railings a fresh coat of paint, as part of the Lambeth Youth Offending Service (YOS) reparation program.

The youngsters aged between ten and sixteen are giving back to the community by repainting the fencing across the entire estate which got underway this month.
The program which is run by Lambeth Council serves to show young people convicted in a court the errors of their ways.

The works to refresh the metal fences will be an on-going relationship between Weir Estate Residents Association and the Youth Offending Service.

A group of up to ten youngsters are overseen by officers from Lambeth YOS. The paint and materials have been donated by major works contractor Breyer Group plc and Gunites Decorators which has enabled the project to take place.
WERA contacted the Youth Offending Service to try to brighten up the estate following works to improve resident’s homes and the exterior of the blocks.

With massive budget cuts on the horizon for both Lambeth Living and Lambeth Council, following the coalition’s spending cuts, both organisations don’t have the money available to carry out the work so WERA approached the Youth Offending Service to help rehabilitate young people through the community payback scheme.

Reparation Coordinator for Lambeth’s Youth Offending Service, Kate Mirimo  explains “Lambeth Youth Offending Service are committed to ensuring young people are made aware of the consequences of their actions and that they show remorse, make amends and sign up to a plan for their restoration in the community.  Working with WERA has enabled young people from our service to reflect on their actions and complete practical work which helps visibly improve their local area”.

Work has already got underway to repair the 1970’s railings after a three way agreement between WERA, Breyer Group plc and Lambeth Living. The repainting works is taking place alongside that program, which is also currently underway.

WERA spokesperson, Kieran Casey said of the partnership with YOS “It’s a great scheme whereby youths who have been given community punishment orders can come out, and work in the community, to make the area a better place”.

The program of works has been carried out during the summer holidays and will then continue during weekends and school holidays as the main focus of rehabilitating young people after being convicted is to ensure they continue in education. Kieran added “We are delighted to be working with the Youth Offending Scheme, and to be able to help the youth’s in their reparation. WERA strives to work with the community, and this is another project which shows this”.

Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Peter Robbins praised the efforts of WERA and the work of YOS “Giving young offenders the chance to contribute positively to their local community is an important part of their rehabilitation. It’s great that the Weir estate is benefiting from the scheme – hopefully painting the railings will show the young people that helping other people is much more rewarding than crime.”

This is first project of its type on this side of Lambeth proving that the community can benefit from such schemes.