WORK is set to begin on a special project in Ipswich which will create a fishing platform for anglers with disabilities.The materials for the platform are being supplied by Ipswich Borough Council and the work is being done by a group carrying out unpaid work under the supervision of Suffolk Probation Service.

WORK is set to begin on a special project in Ipswich which will create a fishing platform for anglers with disabilities.

The materials for the platform are being supplied by Ipswich Borough Council and the work is being done by a group carrying out unpaid work under the supervision of Suffolk Probation Service.

The project, which is due to get under way next month, is the inaugural Mayor's Project and it is being built on the River Gipping.

Ipswich mayor Inga Lockington said: “I am really glad that this is now under way.

“It is a partnership project between the borough and Suffolk Probation and will result in something really useful to the local community.

“I am grateful to everyone involved and am looking forward to its completion.”

John Budd, the area chief officer for Suffolk Probation, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Ipswich Borough Council on this mayoral project.

“Unpaid work is a probation success story. It gives offenders the chance to give something back to the community where they have offended and to make a positive contribution to the quality of life in their neighbourhood.

“At the same time, offenders learn useful skills, which they could help them get paid employment.

“These fishing platforms are a great idea and should help disabled anglers to enjoy the River Gipping, which is a beautiful part of our Suffolk countryside.”

Unpaid work is carried out by offenders as part of a community order or as a condition of a suspended prison sentence.

The work has to be of value to the community and is designed to teach offenders valuable work-based skills.

It is available to all offenders whose crimes are serious enough to warrant a community-based penalty, but are not so serious as to merit an immediate prison term.

Offenders undertaking unpaid work are often those who have been convicted of offences of dishonesty, lesser violent offences, driving offences and criminal damage.

Much of the work is undertaken by groups of offenders under supervision, but there are also individual placements, such as working in charity shops.

Do you support schemes like the unpaid work programme? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.