CRIMINALS are making a difference at a project on Oxford’s biggest estate.

Eight members of a “community payback” team started work at the Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground this week.

With their help, the long-awaited playground should relaunch on April 16.

Secretary Sue Price said: “The team came to the playground on Tuesday and it was fantastic. They cleared a lot of stuff and then set to work painting fences. They were such hard workers I couldn’t fault them.”

The team will work at the playground in Blackbird Leys Road regularly until the work is done.

Their unpaid efforts – formerly known as community service – form part of their sentences.

Mrs Price said: “We still have a long way to go, but it’s exciting.”

The adventure playground closed in December 2009 after financial concerns but was helped to its feet in November, with a £6,590 Gannett Foundation grant from Oxford Mail parent firm Newsquest’s US owners.

BLAP still needs money and volunteers.

Mrs Price said: “We need at least 30 volunteers who can become fully trained and spare one evening a week to supervise.”

A fundraising swap shop will be held at the playground next Saturday. It will give people the chance to see the difference that has already been made.

Mrs Price said: “It’s brilliant – we’ve got groups of teenagers coming to help, then students from Oxford & Cherwell Valley College.

“The community payback team has been phenomenal. We’ve promised they can come along once it’s open because they will always be able to say ‘that’s something I did’.”

Thames Valley Probation payback manager Erica Swift said: “The offenders got off to a flying start and did an enormous amount of work.”

  • Anyone who would like to volunteer can call Mrs Price on 01865 429036.