Barnardo’s NI is working alongside the Probation Board for Northern Ireland in a partnership which aims to reduce reoffending, making communities in Northern Ireland safer and to help reduce the impact and trauma of parental offending on children.
Northern Ireland’s largest children’s charity has received funding from the Probation Board to continue providing parenting services for individuals who are subject to Enhanced Combination Orders. The support provided by Barnardo’s Parenting Matters service is for parents/step- parents/expectant parents or those who have a sibling under the age of 18. Up to 100 parents will receive support from Parenting Matters each year focussing on promoting better outcomes for their children by improving parenting knowledge, relationships and meeting children's needs.
Interim Chief Executive of the Probation Board for Northern Ireland Hugh Hamill said:
“PBNI works in collaboration to reduce reoffending. We work in partnership with a range of organisations across the community and voluntary sector and we are delighted to be in partnership with Barnardo’s NI in order to assist us to reduce reoffending.
“PBNI is committed to working in every community in Northern Ireland. We are also committed to working in partnership. Indeed we believe that in order to rehabilitate and resettle those who have offended we must work collaboratively. This partnership will help us carry out our role of changing lives for safer communities.”
Michele Janes Head of Barnardo’s NI has welcomed the continued funding provided by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland and said:
“Barnardo’s NI is a partner in PBNI’s roll out of Enhanced Combination Orders (ECOs), providing direct 1-1 support to parents within their own community. The aim of ECOs is to divert people with convictions from short-term custodial sentences by offering those sentencing an existing community option in a more intensive package with a focus on rehabilitation, reparation, restorative practice and desistance.
“The ethos of collaborative working between PBNI and Barnardo’s has been key to the success of ECOs; the good working relationship between PBNI staff, and staff in the community and voluntary sector has facilitated the strengthening of family ties as individuals complete their order in the the community.
“We are delighted to continue working in partnership together, supporting parents to improve outcomes for children and families affected by parental offending, thus reducing re-offending and intergenerational offending.”