An Attendance Centre Order may be made for a young person who has been found guilty of any offence for which an adult may be punished by a sentence of imprisonment or who has failed to comply with a previous Court Order, including non-payment of a fine.

The local Attendance Centre is held at Winton Boys School, Ensbury Evenue, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth on alternate Saturday mornings.

What does it mean?

You will be expected to attend the Centre once a fortnight for two hours according to the instructions given to you by the Youth Offending Team Officer who sees you after court.

The Court will have ordered you to attend for a specific number of hours from  minimum of 12 hours ro a maximum of 36.

The aim of the Centre is twofold - to provide the Courts with an option of community sentencing which not only punishes young offenders by loss of leisure time but also provides a disiplined learning environment for that period of time.

What will I do at the centre?

Whilst at the centre you will receive guidance about physical fitness and be expected to participate in simple physical excercise.

You will take part in groups to help you understand why you offend and how you can stop offending. You will have to think about the effect of your offending on other people. You can learn how to be assertive rather than aggresive, how to relate positively to other people, how to develop confidence in yourself.

You will be offered help with things which may be useful to you in the future such as writing a CV, doing the theory for a driving test, computer skills, first aid.

You will be expected to do some work for the community each time, usually tidying up around the school.