In the Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast Area, CPPS operates community work in Blenheim, Greymouth, Nelson, Westport, Motueka, and Hokitika. Find contact details for Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast Area.
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Excerpt from Community Works Issue 6, February 2006 |
Obstacles put up by Community Work offenders are proving a real asset to Nelson school children.
Work began last May to construct a fitness circuit at Clifton Terrace Primary School as part of a health and fitness strategy in education.
The complex job was assigned to Community Work Supervisor Jack Pike from the local Community Probation Service to coordinate.
”The project was excellent for us. It provided a number of different opportunities to develop skills. Over 80 tanalised posts were used and an awful lot of concrete went in, and the school were very happy with the end result.”
Senior Community Work Supervisor Sue Capenerhurst was delighted with the way the project developed and impressed by the way the Community Work offenders got behind it.
Sue said it was particularly gratifying to see offenders who had building skills helping the less skilled so they could be part of the project and make a contribution.
“A lot of knowledge was passed on and the fact that it was a school project made it very popular with the Community Work offenders,” she said.
The project was done over about four months on weekends.
Clifton Terrace Principal Keith Williamson says the obstacle course develops strength, flexibility, aerobics, and balance and is suitable for pupils of all ages.
It’s also been offered as a fitness facility for local volunteer fire fighters and the police, says Keith.
“The school raised $15,000 to pay for the materials but the work of the offenders was all free. I’ve been here 16 years and we’ve had some amazing work done by the (offenders). We can’t do without them.”
The 14 obstacles have been an instant hit with the children. “They have interclass competitions trying to beat the ‘world record’. They just love to challenge themselves.”