Caerphilly’s Youth Offending Service Donate Bird Boxers And Planters

Several bird boxes and planters have been donated to Cwmcarn Forest and Cwrt Mytton Residential Care Home by the Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly Youth Offending Service (YOS). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of their reparation, young people who have offended and are working with the Youth Offending Team, spending their free time making items which can be donated to organisations and charities in their local communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The YOS works with 8-17 years olds at a risk of, or involved in offending behaviour. By working together, sharing knowledge, skills and experience, the YOS aims to help young people make the right life choices to prevent further offending. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Patricia Morgan, Team Manager in the Youth Offending Service said, “Reparation gives young people the opportunity to learn new skills and use their time constructively. Young people experience a sense of pride in their achievements, particularly when they can see items they have made on display in their local community for everyone to enjoy”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anna Gambarini, Countryside Warden at Cwmcarn Forest said, “We are delighted to have been offered a selection of bird boxes and a planter from the Youth Offending Service, which we will use around the site to help our feathered friends visit next spring. The boxes will be put around the park over the next few weeks, and the planter will be used to enhance the outdoor education area”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She continued, “The young people built the boxes to a very high standard and we hope that they get a very satisfied feeling knowing they have done a great job, and provided a safe home for our birds!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Robin Woodyatt, Cabinet Member for Social Services said, “It must be very rewarding for the young people, who have put in a lot of time and effort to create these items, to know they have been greatly received by both organisations. These projects are a great way for previous young offenders to gain new skills which can be utilised in their future careers. I look forward to hearing about their next impressive creations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Future projects are currently being organised such as making wooden Christmas decorations to be donated and sold to raise money for local charities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​