New Youth Justice Agency Headquarters Officially Open

The new Youth Justice Agency (YJA) headquarters was officially opened today.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Justice Minister Naomi Long opened the new facilities, which are based at Charles House, Donegall Street, Belfast.

The headquarters aims to create a safe, inclusive and trauma centred environment for children, young people, families and victims.

Minister Long said: "The Youth Justice Agency plays an important role in diverting young people from the formal youth justice system, and in the delivery of interventions to address offending behaviour, raising victim awareness and in reducing the risk of reoffending.

"These new multi-functional offices will support their dynamic business needs and allow staff to increase their engagement, identify unmet needs and promote positive and sustainable relationships with children and young people." The headquarters will also house the Youth Justice Services Belfast Area Team and include a designated reception area, additional training rooms, a functioning kitchen to facilitate reparative and development opportunities for children and young people, and multi-sensory rooms for children with neurodivergent and sensory processing needs.

The Minister added: "While the physical environment is important in the delivery of services, the true strength of the Agency lies in the professional, highly skilled and experienced staff working within the Belfast Area Team.

"Having met many of them today I can say they are highly motivated and deliver the highest level of care for the children, families, carers and victims who they work with."

Whilst at Charles House, Minister Long also launched the Youth Justice Agency (YJA) Performance Impact Report 2023-24, which includes quantitative data, user feedback and case studies to illustrate the outcomes of the Agency's work.

It also provides core information on the Agency's performance and its impact on children, families, victims and communities.