Criminals to work for free to repair church

KIRKLEES Mayor Jean Calvert has backed a new offenders’ project to renovate a church.

Criminals will work 15,000 hours unpaid over 40 days later this month to repair St Hilda’s Church, Cowcliffe.

The scheme, expected to save £9,000 in labour, is organised by the mayor’s office and West Yorkshire Probation Service (WYPS).

The mayor has appealed to builders, plumbers and plasterers to help with the work.

Clr Calvert met WYPS managers Mandy Walker and Janine Pedley and church congregation members Christine and John Philip at the church to discuss the project. The church hopes the work will transform it into a community hub.

Mandy Walker, unpaid work manager for Kirklees and Wakefield, said: “As well as carrying out the work, the offenders will improve their basic skills and gain qualifications.”