Restorative Justice  provides young people with the opportunity to make amends directly to the victim (if required) for their offending. The many forms of Restorative Justice facilitated include conferences, face to face meetings, indirect reparation or community payback. The various schemes offered by the Youth Offending Service enable young offenders to undertake a positive or constructive activity within the community under the supervision of the YOS.

Community Payback activities take place in schools, youth centres, community centres and other charitable or community run organisations. The schemes enable young people to address offending; be aware of the consequences of their offending; and importantly, to increase awareness of the impact their behaviour has had on the victim, the community, and their families.

It also teaches a number of skills, including communication skills, team working, decision making and consideration of others. These skills will in the future, be accredited through the OCN learning network.

A number of our projects are restoration and conservation projects.

The type of schemes which are run are offence specific, conservation scheme (painting, decorating, gardening), life skills, and working with the community (work with schools and churches). See young people taking part in Community Payback here >>

Sunderland Youth Offending Service is interested in hearing about any community projects in Sunderland that young people who have offended could get involved in to give something back. To suggest a community project for young people to become involved in please contact Sunderland Youth Offending Service on telephone 0191 566 3048 and ask to speak to the Restorative Justice Team.

Read more about the Graff Class Project here >>

Graffiti Removal - Barnes Park

A young person responsible for graffiti within the Barnes Park grounds was required to return to the park and remove all of the paint sprayed on the park furniture. After receiving information from the young person's supervising officer, a referral was made and the Restorative Justice Team allocated a specific time to enable the young person to carry out the work. The victims (Sunderland City Council)  were very satisfied with the results.

Graffiti Removal - The Chase Washington

A number of young people active to Sunderland Youth Offending Service who had committed graffiti criminal damage offences within the City of Sunderland were asked to carry out graffiti removal at an address in the Washington area. A member of the community had specifically asked for this particular row of houses to be cleaned up as it has been targeted by a number of youths for several months. After completion of the reparation a house holder from the Chase stated on local radio how pleased she was with the finished job and spoke very positively about the young people who carried out the task.

Rubbish Removal and Gardening - Biddick Community Centre

After receiving a telephone call from a member of the local community who was concerned about the state of the Washington Community Centre grounds in Biddick, it was decided the Restorative Justice Team would carry out some gardening and general tidying of the area. This task took place over a number of weeks and was completed by several young people active to the YOS. After completion of the work a letter of appreciation was received from the manager of the Centre stating that the young people were very efficient and hard working.

St. Cuthbert’s Parochial Church

In November 2007 the Church Warden from St. Cuthbert’s Parochial Church, East Rainton contacted Sunderland Youth Offending Service after hearing about the young people from the YOS and the reparation schemes they have carried out throughout the city of Sunderland. After initial contact was made and risk assessments carried out it was agreed that Sunderland Youth Offending Service would paint and decorate the communal hall in preparation for the Christmas festivities. This was completed by the agreed deadline date and the young people who took part received a letter of thanks of appreciation for the work completed.

Graffiti Removal Extension Road, East Hendon

Sunderland Youth Offending Service working in conjunction with multi-agency work force Street Pride completed the removal of the graffiti stained wall in East Hendon this was completed over a number of weeks by the young people who had previously committed criminal damage offences. It was recognised that by getting young people who cause criminal damage throughout the City to remove the graffiti as this would put something back into the community which they live.