13/04/2015

New College For Young Offenders Opens

A new college for young offenders at Hydebank Wood in south Belfast has opened.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service opened the college for 18-21 year old young men, which will address their offending behaviour through education, vocational training, mentoring and support programmes. Prisoners will be involved in a range of activities from Monday to Friday with a number of weekend activities also provided.

Justice Minister David Ford said: "The opening of the new Hydebank Wood College is an important milestone for prison reform in Northern Ireland.

"In 2013, more than a third of young people committed to Hydebank Wood had literacy problems and over half had numeracy difficulties. Through education and skills training the college will give more young people hope for the future and at the same time help to deliver a safer community in Northern Ireland.

"This unique college environment will support, stretch and challenge young adults, and help them to develop their skills and employability, address their offending behaviour so they can make a positive contribution to their community after release."

(CD/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 April 2023
NI Prison Officer Wins Prestigious Butler Trust Award
Northern Ireland Prison Officer, Richard Graham, has been awarded the Butler Trust Award in recognition of his rehabilitation work with young men.
22 August 2001
Live video linking for Londonderry magistrates’ court
Londonderry magistrates’ court is set to become the latest court in Northern Ireland to introduce video linking connecting it to Maghaberry Prison and the Young Offenders Centre.
19 February 2014
Hydebank Wood Prison Appoints New Governor
Austin Treacy has been appointed the new governor for Northern Ireland's third largest prison, Hydebank Wood and Young Offenders Centre in Belfast. The appointment follows the decision by current Governor Paul Norbury to retire at the end of March.
16 September 2022
NI Pupils Experiencing Vintage Computing Technology
School pupils across NI are getting to experience vintage computing technology with a series of demonstrations from The CODE Show roadshow museum.
26 July 2022
Prison Service Must Be 'Adequately Resourced'
Ulster Unionist Party Leader Doug Beattie has called for the Northern Ireland Prison Service to be "adequately resourced", addressing concerns surrounding pay and working conditions, welfare support and other issues.