Arriva Trains Wales | YOUNG OFFENDERS’ PROJECT SENDS OUT THE RIGHT SIGNALS

YOUNG OFFENDERS’ PROJECT SENDS OUT THE RIGHT SIGNALS

Young offenders from the Cardiff Youth Offending Team have helped spruce up an inner city station by giving it a lick of paint.

As part of a restorative justice project co-ordinated by Arriva Trains Wales, the youngsters worked alongside staff from the train company, supervisors from the Youth Offending Team and Llanishen station adopter Warren Tucker to re-paint the access ramps to both platforms at Ninian Park railway station.

The Cardiff Youth Offending Team is a statutory partnership under the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act.

The team forms part of a multi agency partnership with staff from departments such as the Children’s Services, Schools Service, Probation Service and organisations such as the Police, Careers Wales and Crime Reduction Initiative.

Jacque Harris, Reparation Co-ordinator for the Youth Offending Team, said: “Our principal aim is to prevent offending by children and young people. We work in many different ways with young people aged 10 to17 who have offended and offer support and guidance to their parents and carers.”

She continued: “We also offer restorative justice, general advice and support to victims of crimes committed by young people. The project undertaken at Ninian Park station will have helped the youngsters learn new skills and in completing the work, will have made a positive improvement to the local community.”

Geraint Morgan, community affairs manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “The main purpose of the partnership with the Youth Offending Team is to reconnect young people into education and training by trying something new whilst offering a sense of direction and leadership.”

He continued: “The project at Ninian Park provides the youngsters with an opportunity to give something back to the community. We are very pleased with the standard of work and are hopeful that the project will help prevent re-offending and improve their future employment prospects.”

In recognition of their participation in the project, members of the Youth Offending Team and their families have been offered a complimentary ticket anywhere on the Arriva Trains Wales network.