Clackmannanshire Council Online

Unpaid Work

Unpaid Work

Unpaid Work is part of a Community Payback Order (CPO) made by a court. It is a community sentence that requires someone to complete a set number of hours of unpaid work for the benefit of the local community instead of receiving a short prison sentence.

Unpaid work

• holds people accountable for their actions
• allows people to pay back the community
• provides structure and routine
• helps people develop skills and improve employability
• reduces the risk of further offending
• may include physical work projects and/or structured 'other activity' such as employability and learning and skills-based activities, where appropriate

The work must be completed within a timescale set by the court:

• Up to 100 hours – must be completed within 3 months
• Over 100 hours – must be completed within 6 months

Unpaid Work is for individuals

• who have been given an Unpaid Work or Other Activity Requirement as part of a Community Payback Order by a court
• aged 16 or over

Unpaid work cannot be self-referred. It is imposed by the Court following assessment by Justice Social Work.

What are the criteria that govern Unpaid Work?

• Work must benefit the local community
• Work must be aimed at not-for-profit organisations and charities
• It must not take away paid work from others
• Costs of materials must be supplied by the beneficiary

Unpaid work placements in the community can help offenders to learn and acquire new work skills to improve their employability and support positive change.

Unpaid Work cannot be used

• to replace paid employment or skilled trade work
• for private commercial gain
• to deliver core council services
• to involve activities that require specialist equipment or work at height

Community reassurance and safety

Unpaid Work is a supervised community justice activity.  All unpaid work projects are risk assessed and supervised by trained staff. Work is matched to an individual’s abilities, health needs and risk level to ensure the safety of individuals, staff and the wider community.

Unpaid Work provides communities with visible payback while supporting safer communities and reducing offending.

For further information and support, you can access the community directory or the Community Interventions and Support Directory - Community Justice Scotland. 

How does the Clackmannanshire community benefit from unpaid work schemes?

Clackmannanshire Council's unpaid work squads routinely complete a wide range of tasks for the benefit of the community including

• clearing Vegetation 
• landscaping 
• local path network improvements 
• litter picking 
• clearing fly-tipping 
• construction work eg benches, planters, walkways/bridges etc
• repair work eg signage, walkways/bridges, graveyards etc
• painting 
• school/ELC playground improvements 

Projects are selected to deliver clear community benefit and positive outcomes for local people. 

Supervision and support

Unpaid Work is supervised by trained staff. Individuals

• attend at agreed times and locations
• follow health and safety instructions
• complete work to an acceptable standard

Unpaid work placements can also

• help build work skills
• improve confidence and routine
• support progression into employment or training

Conduct and behaviour 

Individuals completing unpaid work are expected to behave respectfully towards staff and members of the public. Inappropriate behaviour, refusal to work or persistent non-attendance may be reported to Court. 

Equality and accessibility 

We aim to deliver unpaid work fairly and without discrimination. Reasonable adjustments may be made to support disabilities, health conditions, caring responsibilities or additional support needs. 

If you are a community group or charity:

• Community groups or charities can apply for help with their projects by filling in our Unpaid Work Request form.
• The team will assess whether the work is suitable, safe and meets unpaid work criteria.
• If approved, a work squad may be scheduled.
• Your organisation must provide materials required for the project, for example paint, plants or building materials.
• Details of work undertaken are posted regularly on our Facebook page. We welcome your comments.

Your project must 

• benefit the local community 
• not replace paid or volunteer roles 
• be time limited and achievable 
• have materials supplied

If you have been given unpaid work by the court:

• You will attend an induction appointment with Justice Social Work
• The requirement and expectations will be explained clearly
• You will be allocated to a work squad or activity placement
• You must attend as instructed until your hours are completed
• Your progress will be monitored and reported to the court

If you fail to attend without good reason, this may be treated as a breach of your Community Payback Order.

Unpaid Work Request form

If you would like to request unpaid work through Clackmannanshire Council’s Community Payback service, you can fill out the form below:

• Unpaid Work Request form