Author Archives: Sharon

Children & Young People’s Resource Pack – Summer 2025 Edition

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The Summer Edition of the Children & Young People’s Resource Pack is OUT Now!

Includes activity ideas and recipes to help keep the kids entertained over the summer break, along with disability and mental health resources, plus more!

Picture with image promoting Resource Pack for Children & Young People Summer 2025 edition. Image is on a cream background with grey spots and includes colouful shapes and squiggles

Download at: https://cypsp.hscni.net/download/426/cyp-resource-pack/46396/children-young-peoples-resource-pack-summer-2025.pdf 

(Note: Newsletter will download directly to your device.  Look out for the pop-up box and click on open file when it appears).

Resources and activities are free and in the public domain.

Please share with contacts who you think would find it useful.

Consultation Aimed at Improving Justice System Efficiency

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Justice Minister Naomi Long has launched a public consultation which is asking whether the PSNI and PPS should be provided with additional powers to deal with a range of low-level offences outside of the traditional court process.

The plans for Out of Court Disposals are designed to offer a timely and proportionate response to low-level offending behaviours and enhance the capacity and resources dedicated to managing more serious cases – speeding up justice for all.

Launching the consultation today, the Minister said:

“Our criminal justice system continues to be under significant pressure; there are still significant backlogs in our courts, and cases are taking too long.

Tackling delay has been a longstanding priority for my Department and our partners in the criminal justice system but it is a complex issue and not one that is unique to Northern Ireland.

The benefits of dealing with cases more quickly through the use of out of court disposals, where appropriate, are well recognised and can deliver swift and effective justice which can help to deter future offending. This isn’t about letting offenders off the hook, but delivering punishments in the most appropriate way and maximising court capacity to deal with the most serious cases quicker.  

The proposals outlined in the consultation paper provide us with the opportunity to re-balance our system by finding better, more efficient ways of dealing with low-level offending.”

 

The Department of Justice would like to hear from members of the public, community and voluntary organisations and anyone else with an interest in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.

The consultation, which is open until 28 September, can be accessed here.

 

New Guidance on AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material

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SBNI Online Safety Committee in partnership with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), have created an essential guide for professionals working with children and young people to understand the risks of AI-generated child sexual abuse material.

This resource is specifically tailored for professionals in Northern Ireland and addresses the urgent and growing threat of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (AI-CSAM). The guide offers clear, practical advice on identifying and responding to AI-CSAM, and reinforces that this material must be treated with the same seriousness and safeguarding response as any other form of CSAM.

Image with text promoting new Child sexual abuse material generated by Artificial Intelligence: An essential guide for professionals who work with children and young people

Image with text promoting new Child sexual abuse material generated by Artificial Intelligence: An essential guide for professionals who work with children and young people

 

Download resource at: https://onlinesafetyhub.safeguardingni.org/child-sexual-abuse-material-generated-by-artificial-intelligence/ 

Police Property Fund Large Grants Scheme – Applications NOW OPEN

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Funding applicatons are now open for the Police Property Fund Large Grants Scheme

Following three successful Small Grants Scheme funding calls, awarding almost half a million pounds to projects across Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Policing Board is opening the first Police Property Fund Large Grants Scheme.

This Large Grants Scheme will see up to £150,000 awarded in grants of between £20,000 and £30,000 to projects which are strategic in nature and work with local PSNI, contribute to community safety and/or building confidence in policing and are aligned to a charitable purpose.

Policing Board Chair Mukesh Sharma MBE DL encouraged any group or organisation that has an idea for a project that fits the bill to apply:

“We’re delighted to be able to launch the Police Property Fund Large Grants Scheme, which gives us an opportunity to support projects that benefit people on a local level.

We’ve seen the real and important impact of the Small Grants Scheme in communities across Northern Ireland, with almost half a million pounds awarded over the last 5 years. We look forward to seeing the positive changes that will come from projects funded by the Large Grants Scheme.

The Scheme is designed to support projects that will improve safety and support partnership building and relationships with policing and within communities. We’re grateful to be able to help forge and strengthen connections between local groups, charities and organisations, Local and Neighbourhood policing teams, and Policing and Community Safety Partnerships.

Building better communities is everyone’s responsibility – so if you feel like you have a project that fits the criteria, make sure you apply.”

Ends

For more information contact the Board’s Communications Office on information@nipolicingboard.org.uk

Notes to editors

  1. The Board is allowed to provide payments to organisations for charitable purposes under the Police (Property) Regulations 1997. The monies in the Police Property Fund come from assets recovered by PSNI during criminal investigations, and the Scheme is administered by the Board in line with the Police (Property) Regulations NI 1997.
  2. A list of previous successful projects can be found here: https://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/publications-search?query_publications=%22police+property+fund%22
  3. All information on the eligibility criteria for the Police Property Fund Large Grants Scheme, including the application documentation, can be found on the Board’s website:  https://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/police-property-fund
  4. The closing date for this call will be 22 September 2025.

FREE Financial Advice – Mid Ulster Area

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Money Minder – Free Financial Advice from STEP in the Mid Ulster area

Image with text promoting Money Minder service from STEP. Service offers free financial advice for people living within the Mid Ulster area. Image of piggy bank and coins on a blue background