How community payback helped Alness Field of dreams to flourish

A TRAILBLAZING Easter Ross project has been a shining example of the life-changing impact a scheme that allows offenders to pay back to communities can have.

The Field as it is fondly known around Easter Ross was a unique response to Covid which has continued to thrive and grow post-pandemic and brought communities around Alness together.

It has become a meeting place where anyone can find a wee project to get stuck into or offer a skill, and there’s always friendly staff on hand.

The Field coordinator, Gordon Robertson is an ex teacher who has been managing The Field for a few years and has overseen more permanent structures and facilities being added.

He said: “The development of The Field would never have progressed as quickly without the amazing help of the Community Payback Team. We are indebted to the hard work they have done and we are hugely grateful for all their efforts. We are thankful for the strong partnership we have developed and have a good rapport with all those helping.”

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It started with an overgrown field, which when cleared gave way to a large events tent, two polytunnels and outdoor growing beds. Seating and play areas emerged in the little woodland, there were gatherings which included music by Feis Rois, freshly made pizzas and soup, stories and bushcraft sessions.

There seemed to be something that appealed to every age group and these events brought together people from far and wide.

It continues to benefit the wider community in so many ways, for example with regular nursery and school groups, creative and supportive groups for adults from all walks of life and many events both public and private.

Janette Douglas, The Place Coordinator said: “Our local Community Payback team have made an amazing contribution to the development of our field.

“Nothing is ever too much trouble for the group and they have always shown huge commitment and respect to the work we are doing. We are extremely grateful!”

She said: “It was during Covid that The Place Youth Club was going through a period of challenges and change and we found ourselves without a venue.

“Being a recognised charity for over 35 years The Place was an integral part of children’s lives within the town so the staff started to think out of the box in an effort to be able to deliver youth work and still keep children safe.”

The youth club were instrumental in the success of The Field and continue to participate in how it evolves, learning life skills, growing food and building community resilience along the way. Excess produce is also given away at the food larder on the High Street.”

Diane Macrae, community payback officer said: “Several of our clients, who worked on these projects, brought their children to various events and the clients were thrilled to see their children using the equipment that they had helped to install.

“This resulted in a sense of satisfaction for the clients who had been involved in the whole process.”

One community payback client involved said: “The Field project is a great idea that helps bring the community together. I wish there was a place like this in my town. I enjoyed helping with the work when I was there. I think this is a great idea for the community.

“It would be good if every village or town had a place like this where kids can go and spend some time with other kids in a safe environment.”

Gabrielle Buist from Highland Community Justice Partnership said: “A sentence in the community can change the path of a person’s life, as well as contributing to and improving their community. “

It is often community leaders (such as Jannette and Gordon) who appreciate that we all have to pull together, to invest time and skills in people in order to make our communities safer in the long term.

“Useful work gets done all around Highland communities which mostly goes unseen and unacknowledged. This is part of my role as HCJP development officer to raise awareness about what ‘community justice’ is and why it’s important.

“As the saying goes ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, well our responsibility towards one another should not end there. Community justice is all about partnership and collaboration, recognising that keeping people safe and reducing reoffending is a joint responsibility of any community.

“The ripple effect of community spaces like these that are so open and welcoming, which also inspire participation and engagement through work, art, murals, nature trails, bushcraft, gardening, stories and music cannot be underestimated.

“A place which actively embraces people and groups of all backgrounds supporting them to find ways to engage and connect, either with people or land-based projects. You can leave with a feeling of achievement and maybe some new friends. I agree that every community should have a Field like this.”

Daine Macrae added: “The Community Payback team has been hugely supportive in many jobs around The Field…dismantling and removing old structures, clearing woodland as well as constructing a wooden chalet for a kitchen, fixing a gazebo and the summerhouse. Community Payback collected and erected a fence for a goat enclosure, built a chicken coup/run and many paths around the site.

“At Christmas they supplied and installed two Christmas trees which were 8ft high and relaid the path to the Santa’s grotto. During the recent storm the large polytunnel based at The Field was damaged and the community payback team were involved in removing the torn sheeting from the polytunnel. And much more! Since we became involved, our team has spent approximately 755 hours on this project.”

The Highland Community Justice Partnership paid tribute to all those groups who are working with community payback teams and offering projects and placements> These include charity shops, churches, community hubs, gardens and cafes, trusts, councils and groups all around Highland.

If you have some jobs that need done or would consider taking on a placement then get in touch for an initial chat. To find out about your local scheme, contact: criminaljustice@highland.gov.uk