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| LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND PROBATION AREA |
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TOTAL HOURS OF UNPAID WORK COMPLETED IN A 12 MONTH PERIOD 126,389* |
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There has been a growing emphasis on projects of work that are eco-friendly and enhance and protect the environment. Great care is taken to ensure that the most suitable 'green' materials are used, and plants selected for gardening schemes are appropriate for the native habitat. The Unpaid Work unit has benefited from the experience of several supervisors who have horticultural skills. This commitment is further illustrated in the commissioned design of the new Cobden Street Probation Centre, which was built to Probation specifications. The building's energy consumption is predicted to be 50% less than a typical office building, and was short-listed for a regional building award. The centre also houses a series of workshops where offenders produce wooden garden and household furniture that raises money for local charities. Cobden Street is also the base for a laundry project called Glad-Rags that recycles second-hand clothes for sale in local charity shops. PROJECT REVIEW: ENVIRON The Probation Area has an on-going partnership with Environ a local environmental agency that provides work on the allotment sites around the city. The scheme is called 'Allotments for All.' The partnership has produced a work assignment that provided new facilities for a disabled club for Asian gardeners. Supervised offenders constructed an allotment site for the Gurunanak Disabled Gardeners' Group, which is part of the Belgrave Allotment Society. The work included creating raised garden beds, a patio area and pathways - and building a shed. PROJECT REVIEW: SENSORY GARDEN Supervised offenders have helped to establish a sensory garden in Leicester's Knighton Park - the first planned and planted by a disabled gardeners' club. The work involved creating proper walkways, rockeries and raised flower beds. The sensory garden will feature very bright coloured plants, flowers with strong scents - and hardy plants that can be touched without damaging the leaves or stem. The Area Parks Manager said: "This has been a great partnership project that has enabled us to create the new sensory garden. The Garden Club for disabled gardeners was formed because we didn't have a facility like this in Leicester. "The Garden Club achieved £7,500 of external funding and, with support from the City Council, began planning this new resource at the park. The club now has around 50 members within the city area. This is a great achievement in just over a year."
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