Avon & Somerset Probation have been working with Aspire Community Enterprise Ltd to supply new businesses in Africa with second hand goods and books that provide local employment and support local charitable ventures.

Aspire Community Enterprise Ltd operates in Bristol providing work placements, training opportunities and employment for homeless, long term unemployed and offenders coming to the end of sentences.

The partnership with Avon & Somerset Probation’s Community Payback teams, made up of offenders sentenced by the courts to Unpaid Work, has been running for the last three years. The teams sort and pack goods that have been unsold in charity shops, for shipping to the projects based in Zambia and Gambia.

The longest running venture is in Chingola, located in the Copperbelt of Zambia. The original link arose through church contacts that have developed over seventeen years, and five years ago led to the formation of Mutende, a village for AIDS orphans. Bristol Developing World Enterprise (Zambia) Ltd was formed at that time to create a local business in Chingola that could provide both employment and resource for the children’s village. This was achieved by sponsoring two containers full of donated goods that were sold by a sales force of some 30 local people. The villagers are now self-sustaining, paying for replacement containers and donating money and goods to the orphanage.

Alan Cable, Director at Aspire Community Enterprise Ltd said: "The Community Payback teams are integral to our providing sorted charitable goods into the developing world. Their efforts lead to the creation of employment in Africa and the financing of an AIDS orphanage in Zambia."

Martin Davies, Assistant Chief Officer at Avon & Somerset Probation Area said "We are excited and proud to work in partnership with Aspire. The project provides an exciting and rewarding opportunity for offenders on Community Payback to make a real contribution to the life's of others."

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