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Author: DOJ Team

‘Connect’ project in hospitals reduces violence and demand on public services

Posted on by DOJ Team

A new report reveals youth workers in emergency departments helped over 1,400 young people escape violence and exploitation in one year.

 

The report, published today by the NI Executive’s programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime, evaluates the Education Authority-led CONNECT project which was undertaken by Dr Colm Walsh of Queen’s University Belfast, and points to the potential for the approach to further reduce youth violence and demands on hard-pressed critical care services.


Youth workers based in two Emergency Departments (EDs) engage and support vulnerable young people aged 15-25 when they arrive in hospitals. They are often very vulnerable and many of them are repeat attenders to the ED.  The youth workers use what is called a ‘teachable moment’ to engage with them at these critical moments and then provide mentoring support, helping young people access the right support in the community. This allows the medical teams to focus on other clinical issues and reduces the chances that the young people will return to the emergency department again.


The report, which includes anonymous case studies and feedback from the people involved, highlights the complex needs of many young people which, if left unaddressed, can make them more vulnerable to violence and criminal exploitation.

 

To read the report, please click on the link below.

Download pdf

Fresh Start Through Sport Pilot Shows Promise Despite Pandemic

Posted on by DOJ Team

An April 2022 evaluation report of the Fresh Start Through Sport (FSTS) pilot project highlighted its ability to break down barriers and bring people together, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The project, funded by the NI Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme and delivered by the Department for Communities as part of Fresh Start in the Community, is a collaboration between the IFA, GAA, Ulster Rugby and Belfast Giants, aimed to engage at-risk youth through sport. When in-person activities were cancelled due to public health restrictions, partners quickly pivoted to online delivery.

 

While online sessions posed some limitations, they also fostered closer collaboration between sporting organisations. Participants gained knowledge, skills and positive experiences, with 100% saying the programme met expectations. 

 

Key recommendations from this evaluation include: enhancing recruitment to engage a wider demographic; increased focus on qualifications, volunteering opportunities and signposting to community organisations; maintaining select online components while prioritising in-person physical activity; and formalising an evaluation working group between stakeholders.

 

Despite pandemic constraints, the FSTS pilot facilitated valuable experiences and demonstrated the potential of sport-based interventions. Participants and organisers remain positive about the programme’s future impact on at-risk youth.

 

To read the report, please click on the link below.

download pdf

Youth violence prevention through social support programmes

Posted on by DOJ Team

New research published in the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma explores the links between social support, psychological stress, and youth violence. The study, which was part of a wider evaluation of the Engage project funded through the Northern Ireland Tackling Paramilitarism and Organised Crime Programme, surveyed over 600 young people aged 10-25 participating in a youth work programme in Northern Ireland. 

 

The results found extremely high rates of exposure to violence and trauma among the sample, with over 40% screening positive for probable PTSD. Elevated psychological stress was associated with a greater intention to engage in physical violence; however, social support emerged as a key protective factor – operating through reduced psychological stress to decrease the risk of violence. 

The author concludes that even for youth in high-risk environments, positive social connections can disrupt the “cycle of violence” by buffering the negative impacts of trauma. Specialist youth work approaches are uniquely positioned to provide such informal support. The research advances understanding of youth work’s role in violence prevention, while highlighting priorities like enhancing community engagement and volunteer opportunities.

Overall, the study makes the case that supporting vulnerable young people’s mental health and social wellbeing should be central to addressing youth violence in Northern Ireland.

 

To read the report, please click on the link below.

download pdf