Community Payback scheme cleans up graves of war veterans
Offenders taking part in Telford and Wrekin’s Community Payback scheme have been helping to commemorate the centenary of the start of World War One.
Those taking part in the scheme have been cleaning up graves of war veterans in the borough’s grave yards.
A total of 28 graves across seven different graveyards have been cleaned up with work ranging from cleaning the actual grave itself to cutting and strimming the immediate area around the grave.
Some of the graves worked on date back to the First World War but participants have attended graves linked to any wars as part of the programme.
The work has also included cleansing the graves of ex-soldiers who died years after the conflict as a result of the injuries they sustained.
Community Payback also identified some additional graves that were not previously known. These have been cleansed and information passed on to the Royal British Legion to update their records.
The graveyards in question are St George’s, St Peter’s in Priorslee, Holy Trinity in Holyhead Road, Ketley, Wombridge, Donnington and Lilleshall.
The work is part of the Telford and Wrekin Community Safety Partnership’s annual environmental works programme working within the six target intervention areas.
There is a multi agency steering group which oversees and plans the work, which includes carrying out works such as painting bollards and sweeping communal car parks and footpaths.
A strong partnership link has been forged with TCAT to ensure that those taking part in the Community Payback scheme have an opportunity to undertake short courses such as Manual Handling and First Aid.
Councillor Hilda Rhodes, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet lead for Community Safety said: “The Community Payback scheme is a nationwide project which sees offenders carry out community work to atone for crimes they have committed.
“It is entirely fitting that they carry out this work to ensure the graves of heroes of previous conflicts including World War One are treated with the utmost respect.
“Perhaps the incredible sacrifice made by these brave men and women will inspire those taking part in the scheme to aspire to live better lives in the future.”
