A NEW initiative encouraging young former offenders to become positively involved in their communities has been launched at the Mansfield Volunteer Centre.
The Artemis project will allow around 300 ex-offenders to get involved with conservation and gardening, graffiti art and photography, mentoring and befriending and community cooking events.
The Wood Street centre has been awarded £210,664 of funding by youth volunteering charity v to work with young offenders who are awaiting release at HMP Ranby.
Centre manager Marlon Imamshah told Chad: "The volunteering opportunities offer real alternatives to negative behaviours and can break the cycle of re-offending through personal development, increased employment possibilities and further learning opportunities."
Pictured at the launch of the Artemis Project on Thursday are, from left, Mansfield mayor Tony Egginton, Alan Lloyd, of the Mansfield Community and Voluntary Service (CVS), Barbara Nestor, chairman of the management committee, Dave Dyson, resettlement manager at Ranby Prison and Marlon Imamshah.
The volunteering opportunities will be available from April 2008 and for more information visit
www.wearev.com or the young people's portal www.vinspired.com.
