Youth Offending Team and London Probation Service

Young offenders, offenders coming to us through community service. Southbank Mosaics is a tough option for offenders - the expectation is for work at the highest standards, using best quality materials, and genuine pay-back to society. The studio operates at arms length from the criminal justice system.

Offenders and ex-offenders are able to attend, either on community service orders or as volunteers and learn a traditional artisan craft, gain nationally accredited qualifications and learn to make a positive contribution in a supportive environment.



"Granny in the Hood" displayed along the Southbank Centre, during Southbank Mosaics' artists' residency at the Festival of Britain, Summer 2011.

The key question is: Why send offenders who are not a danger to the public, to prison? In prison, which is more expensive than Oxford or Eton, offenders are given food, clothing and shelter and spend most of their time doing nothing.

Prison makes the victim pay twice: once for the crime, and again in subsidising indolence and criminal networks.



"War is a Bore" on the Southbank Mosaics' gallery wall.



"Silhouettes" series

Currently we are producing a series of mosaics with our young offenders along the theme of Silhouettes. The work is made using re-cycled materials, during pay-back sessions with London Probation Service and with Lambeth Youth Offending Team. During these sessions we work alongside groups of up to 8 offenders, to encourage their creative and design skills, introduce them to aesthetics, support them to gain qualifications, encourage them to transform their behaviour through modelling good practice and give them an opportunity to leave their mark on London.

10 December 2011.

The piece made by the London Probation Trust & Lambeth Youth Offending Teams: "The London Polo Team," will be shown at Westbank Gallery from the 10th of December.