Volunteers willing to help offenders get back on the straight and narrow have been urged to sign up to a new mentoring scheme.
Participants in the Probation Board Northern Ireland (PBNI) initiative will be encouraged to help offenders apply for jobs, support them as they cope with addiction problems, as well as providing a positive role model.
The pilot scheme will first run in two of the board’s offices in Belfast (Ormeau Road and Newtownards Road), as well as in Downpatrick and Newtownards.
The intention is to roll it out region-wide later in the year.
Director of probation Brian McCaughey said the mentors could provide a key role in rehabilitation.
“PBNI recognises the value that volunteer mentors can provide to support our work in making local communities safer by challenging and changing offenders’ behaviour,” he said.
“Volunteers can offer a core support role to our work, with a distinctive but complementary role alongside paid PBNI staff.”
Mr McCaughey said volunteer mentors would be fully trained and supported throughout their experience.
The board is looking for individuals who can commit two to three hours each week and who are aged over 18 years.
The scheme has been launched as the PBNI made a new funding commitment to voluntary groups helping offenders.
Alcohol and drug addictions services are among almost 40 groups set to benefit from the £153,000 allocation.
The funding boost brings to well over £1 million the total the board has spent in the last 12 months on projects that help to rehabilitate.
With more than 70% of offenders supervised by the board having experienced problems with drink and drug misuse, about £210,000 financial support has been provided to organisations that deal with addiction issues.
Among the 39 groups set to benefit from the latest wave of funding is Dunlewey Substance Advice in Belfast; NorthWest Counselling; and Breakthru, the Northern Ireland wide alcohol and drug addiction charity.
“The aim of the Probation Board is to make local communities safer by challenging and changing offenders` behaviour,” said Mr McCaughey.
“Throughout the year we work closely with partners including those in the community to assist us in delivering programmes to turn the lives of offenders around and make local areas safer.”
Mr McCaughey added: “At this time of year, in particular, the counselling services of groups such as these are greatly needed.
“Over 70% offenders supervised by PBNI misuse drugs and alcohol.
“We have also provided additional funding to many of our community service partners that enable us to effectively supervise community service orders and provide placements to offenders which help them give something back to communities.
“We hope that this additional money will go some way in enabling community and voluntary groups to expand the good work they already carry out in conjunction with PBNI to make communities safer.”
Other groups receiving Probation Board funding include Action Cancer, the Assisi Animal Sanctuary and Conservation Volunteers.
People interested in becoming a volunteer mentor are asked to email volunteers@pbni.gsi.gov.uk or call 02890 262465 / 07880 552504.
