Justice Minister opens new Youth Justice Agency HQ in Belfast
Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Naomi Long has officially opened new headquarters for the Youth Justice Agency (YJA) at Charles House, in Donegall Street, Belfast.
The new facilities, which will also house the Youth Justice Services Belfast Area Team, have been developed to create a safe, inclusive and trauma centred environment for children, young people, families and victims.
It includes 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 neuro-divergent and sensory processing needs.
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 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.”
During the visit to Charles House, Minister Long also took the opportunity to launch 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.