Offenders supervised by the Wales Probation Trust are making a blooming difference to the gardens at a busy community centre in a Carmarthenshire village.
The teams of offenders doing Community Payback work have transformed Llanmiloe community centre by creating raised flower beds with easy access paths for wheelchairs, improving fencing and painting.
One of the offenders, Stephen, said: 'We just need to get on with it and if it's giving something back to the community then that's good too.
'This is a nice place – and it means we can give something back for the mistakes we've made.'
Fellow team member Jonny added: 'We can see we're doing a good job so I just want to do my hours and do something right for a change.'
Jack Done, Chairman of the Llanmiloe Community Association, said: 'We have an aging community here and without the input of the Community Payback team we'd be in trouble – we just couldn't cope.
'I really can't speak too highly of them and what they've done and the expertise of the supervisors is brilliant – without them and the Wales Probation Trust we just wouldn't be able to cope.'
Overseeing the work has been Probation Officer and former Llanelli rugby star Clive John, who said:
'You can see the difference the offenders have made and that's important to them too. They can see they're making a difference.
'We've been coming here for a few years now and it's a really worthwhile thing to be involved in.'
Jack Done added: 'Because the offenders are doing this work for us it means we can spend our money on resources for the community and we have a lot going on here with a gardening club which involves young people too, a carpentry workshop, a pottery club, Welsh lessons and IT classes – we've got a lot going on here, but we wouldn't be able to do it without the support we get from the Wales Probation Trust.'
To nominate a community payback project please visit the Wales probation trust website
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