The Youth Offending Team (or YOT)
I would like to make you aware of The East Sussex Youth Offending Team and its work in tackling youth crime, by changing the behaviour of young people who offend and encouraging them back into education or training so that they can be diverted from crime in the future.
The Youth Offending Team (or YOT) is a partnership between the Police, the Probation Service, Health and the County Council’s Children’s Services Department, it also has developed good links with other organisations in the statutory and voluntary sectors. Young offenders are referred to the YOT by the Police and the Courts and our role is to assess them individually to find the key factors linked to their offending behaviour. Following this a suitable programme is put together designed to prevent them from re-offending.
Our particular area of our work involves the creation of a number of locally-based reparation projects whereby young offenders can put something back into their community to make amends for their offence. Under our close supervision and unpaid, young offenders have for example, painted and renovated park playgrounds, prepared and preserved memorial benches, erected rabbit pens for the benefit of disabled people and the mentally handicapped and much, much more as well as carrying out many wide ranging gardening projects.
A sense of achievement and self esteem does not readily come into the lives of many of the young people that are referred to the YOT. However, it has become considerably noticeable that working on a project that is both educational and productive, there is a marked improvement in the interest of these young people, to a point that a number have offered to continue voluntarily after their court order has finished. During their time with us we are keen to provide them with the opportunity to learn and develop new skills which could in time provide the basis for full time employment and lessen any inclination to re-offend.
Whilst we are pleased with the projects that we have completed and are currently working on, we want to expand and vary the type of work we can provide. We are desperately in need of tools, old or new, and materials that might prove useful for one of our projects. Any item or items from the following list or any materials that might be surplus to your requirements that you feel that you could donate would be gratefully received. Alternatively, you may wish to sponsor a project. Either of these options would be equally welcome
Each completed project will bear a plaque crediting the YOT for its input and any company or organisation for their kind donation. Wording to be clarified and agreed.
We are currently working with some of our local schools on an educational gardening design project dealing with the history, life and products of plants, but should you require more information about the projects we are involved in, or are planning, please feel free to contact me by e.mail terry2fitz@yahoo.co.uk, at St Marks House, Eastbourne, on 01323 466633 or directly on 07795 012 822. I will be only too pleased to be of assistance.
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Yours,
Terence Fitzgerald
For and on behalf of
East Sussex Youth Offending Team
YOT 'Wanted List'
Garden Power Tools
• Petrol Mower
• Petrol Trimmer
• Petrol Hedge Trimmer
Garden Hand Tools
• Spades
• Forks
• Telescopic Cropper
• Telescopic Shears
• Shears
• Telescopic Pruner
• Pruners
• Mini Forks
• Trowels
• Cultivator
• Weeder
General Power Tools
• Pressure Washer
• Cordless Drill
• Drill Set
• Jigsaw
• Power Saw & Bench
• Circular Saw
• Sheet Sander
• Belt Sander
• Planer
• Paint Spray Station
Hand Tools
• Hammers
• Chisels
• Woodworking Kit
• Power Cable Extension Lead
• Brooms
Misc
• Paint
• Paint Brushes
• Rollers & Trays
• Sandpaper
• Plants
• Bulbs
• Seeds