2 March

Rough Island Equestrian park near Richmond has been given an over-haul by hard working offenders serving community work sentences.
 
For the last year a community work party run by Nelson Community Probation & Psychological Services (CPPS) has been undertaking a multitude of jobs on a weekly basis.

Work has focused on grounds maintenance including pruning trees, removing large amounts of gorse, broom, bush, and long grass, spreading gravel, filling in huge potholes, putting in equestrian jumps and painting buildings.

“Many favourable comments have been received by the users of the grounds as the transformation has been so obvious,” says Brenda Holland of the Equestrian Park Management Board Inc.

The Equestrian Park Management Board Inc has expressed their gratitude to Community Work Supervisor Jack Pike and his work party, saying, “a huge thank you to Jack Pike, and those guys on his team who have worked so well. 
 
“The work just goes on and on but Jack and his 'team' continue to keep on top of the beautification – no mean task with the large area involved.”
 
The work will continue on a weekly basis as part of Nelson CPPS management of community work sentences that require offenders to do unpaid work in the community for non-profit organisations as reparation for their offending.

A community work project also continues on neighbouring Rabbit Island, a Department of Conservation run site popular with holiday-makers for its expansive beach which has benefitted from having a CPPS work party clear rubbish.  

Each year New Zealand communities benefit from almost three million hours of labour supplied through offenders serving their Community Work sentences.

Community work agency funding is available for work sponsors who are willing to sponsor Community Workers on an individual or small group basis. Work sponsors may be eligible for funding of up to $1,000.

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