North East Fife Rejuvenated By Ex-Cons

An art centre near Newport, a playgroup in Cupar and a scout group in Newport have all benefitted from a scheme to keep offenders out of jail. 

Fife council's unpaid work programme has been praised by North East Fife residents for rejuvenating the area, while rehabilitating crimials.

As well as being cheaper than jailing someone, it's been commended for cutting reoffending rates and offering education opportunities to offenders.

A formal qualification has even been devised by former workers on the scheme, which has now been completed by 15 people.

Chair of the North East Fife Area Committee, Cllr. Frances Melville, said: "Community Payback plays a significant and positive role in communities. 

"After each project, plaques are left indicating that the work has been carried out by the unpaid work scheme and this has an encouraging impact on those who have participated as well as the recipients of the service. 

"It’s great to see so many individuals and organisations throughout North East Fife benefitting from Community Payback. I’m also pleased to see Community Payback participants can now gain a vocational qualification by taking part in this scheme."