Author Archives: Sharon

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

New Guide on Setting Up a Peer Support Group

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Following on from Parentline NI’s recent school avoidance event held in Lisburn, it was evident that peer support groups can play an important role in supporting parents and carers.  

The Parent Participation Service at Children in NI have developed a new guide to support parents in setting up peer support groups.

Peer support can play a powerful role in building connection, resilience and shared learning within communities and we hope this guide can be used to help facilitate the development of new peer support groups across Northern Ireland.

Image depicting group of parents sitting around a table chatting, promoting a new guide – Parents Supportiong Parents: A Guide to Starting a Peer Support Group

Download Guide