Throughout 2025, Probation has continued changing lives for safer communities, working with those who have offended, victims of crime and local communities. We would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a peaceful happy New Year.

Mindfulness interventions show potential benefits including better emotional regulation. Read Brigeen Mullan’s #IPJ article on her reflections of a pilot mindfulness-based programme offered to a small group of service-users in PBNI. Read the article at www.pbni.org.uk/publication/...

Christmas and New Year’s isn’t easy for everyone. Please reach out if your mental health is not in a good place, if you are suffering from domestic violence or if you find yourself without accommodation. The numbers are always open.

We have continued to publish our podcasts in 2025 covering our steps to becoming Trauma Informed and how we have been improving probation practice for better outcomes. You can listen to all our podcasts on @spotify at open.spotify.com/show/4LRvyFU...

One service user emphasises that it is so important to stay in touch with the probation officer, especially when transitioning from prison to the community. Also read his story in Connect pbni.org.uk/files/pbni/2...

Probation is proactive in becoming #TraumaInformed. Our Trauma Implementation Group discussed at its latest meeting the progress on taking this approach with staff & service users & its benefits. Listen to our first podcast on becoming trauma informed open.spotify.com/episode/2UOG...

Our Corporate Plan 2026-29 consultation is now closed. Many thanks to everyone who engaged with us since the consultation opened 23 September. We will now be considering all the feedback received from seminars, meetings, emails & online forms to finalise the Corporate Plan.

Lesley McAllister and Emma Richmond from our Learning and Organisational Development Unit hosted a development day for 16 enthusiastic Belfast Met and Ulster University Social Work students to Probation headquarters to learn about the role of Probation and of Probation Officers.

#CommunityService has been hard at work building Santa post boxes for the Greenisland area with the Greenisland Community Council & the Greenisland Men's Shed.

Today Assistant Dir Melissa Spence was with Prison Fellowship NI today helping them pack food and toy hampers for the Christmas Hope project alongside Chief Executive Robin Scott and Operations Manager Bryan Stewart. Melissa also saw some hampers head to our Shipquay Street office for service users.

Asst Dir. Melissa Spence, Exec Officer Niamh Brownlee & Head of Comms Gail McGreevy arranging for the recent Prison Fellowship NI #ChristmasHope appeal of toys and gift bags donated by staff. The gifts are for prisoners’ families at a time when they can feel alone & under extra financial pressure.

PBNI held its first Leadership forum of senior & middle managers on ‘Trauma Informed Leadership’. They had the opportunity to discuss applying trauma informed principles in work. Our trauma informed journey continues towards being a compassionate, safe & supportive workplace.

Our Victims Unit support registered victims providing info on what it means when someone is given a probation supervised Court Order. Julie was tied up & attacked by her ex-partner at home with their 8-month-old daughter home. PBNI with her traumatic experience. #16DaysofActivism

PBNI is part of Public Protection Arrangements NI where agencies work together to protect the public & provides co-ordinated risk assessment & management effective in reducing immediate & long-term risk of sexual or violent re-offending. Read more at www.publicprotectionni.com

Staff understand how domestic abuse can escalate through Dr Jane Monckton Smith’s 8 stage homicide timeline. Outlines what dangerous relationships look like & impact of coercive control & domestic abuse is about patterns. #16DaysofActivism Listen 2 more @ ted.com/talks/dr_jan...

The Domestic Violence & Abuse Disclosure Scheme gives you a way to enquire about a person they are in a relationship with or in a relationship with someone they know, where there is a domestic abuse concern. More information available at www.psni.police.uk/safety-and-s...

Promoting Positive Relationships Programme (PPRP) is a PBNI programme for adult males showing potential to be abusive to intimate partners, & whose children are assessed at risk. This early intervention aims to ensure safety of women & children & prevent further abusive behaviour. #16DaysOfActivism

PBNI staff have been trained to recognise & respond to Domestic or Sexual Abuse. by @OnusNI. Designed to ensure staff in the workplace can recognise & know how to respond to signs of domestic or sexual abuse, the Onus is on all of us & together we can all play our part.

Probation has signed up to the White Ribbon Charter pledging to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women & girls. @NiRibbon challenges attitudes and beliefs that lead to male violence against women

Aideen McLaughlin Assistant Director was delighted 2 attend this event on Thursday & hear the lived experiences of those who have been through the justice system. Looking forward to continuing the conversations. A partnership event between Turnaround, Speire Nua and PACE

Probation is very fortunate to have a Retired Association of Probation who are active and engage with teams across Northern Ireland. This morning RAP held their AGM in Belfast and had an update on organisational developments from Chief Executive Amanda Stewart.

This week our Board Chair met with staff who help deliver community service. At our event in north Belfast we brought together a range of partners from local areas.

Assistant Director Liz Arthur attended the All Party Group on Domestic and Sexual violence chaired by Diane Forsythe. The meeting focused on North/South cooperation to tackle violence against women and girls. #16DaysOfActivism

Board Chair Glenn Houston welcomed board members, staff and partners to our event highlighting community service. Community service is a practical and visible way for people who have offended to pay back to local communities and make reparation for the harm caused.

Last week we held our annual public protection advisory group seminar in Ulster University Belfast Campus. Dr. Brian Payne & colleagues hosted the event for The Probation Board NI and The Probation Service Irl

Today we held an event in Belfast to thank our staff & those community placements who provide #CommunityService. We heard from partners, staff & service users about the benefits & impact of community service. Find out how Community Service can deliver @ pbni.org.uk/community-se...

PBNI Head of Communications Gail McGreevy welcomed Chief Superintendent Jane Humphries from An Garda Síochána and Northern Ireland Prison Service Senior Officer Jason Ferris to our annual Public Protection Seminar in Belfast focusing on keeping community at the heart of justice.

PBNI Chief Executive Amanda Stewart & Probation Service Director (Acting) Una Doyle at @ulsteruni.bsky.social for the 16th Public Protection Advisory Group Seminar focusing on keeping community at the heart of justice.

We are delighted to launch Volume 22 of the Irish Probation Journal. This partnership between PBNI & The Probation Service is an important example of north-south collaboration helping enhance learning & share practice. Read IPJ Vol 22 at www.pbni.org.uk/irish-probat...

PPAG leadership programme Awards were presented in Bar Library by @justice-ni.bsky.social Perm. Sec. Hugh Widdis & @deptjusticeirl.bsky.social Sec. Gen. Oonagh McPhillips. Many thanks to LCJ RT Hon Dame Siobhan Keegan for speaking & congrats to all who successfully completed the programme.

Head of Communications Gail McGreevy and Lead Psychologist Michael McCracken attended Northern Ireland Assembly Long Gallery event sponsored by the Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots MLA in conjunction with Women's Aid NI to mark International day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Our corporate plan 2026-29 states: “we will respond to emerging risks & priorities across justice inc. changes in types of offences committed online, greater prevalence of domestic abuse & violent crimes committed against women & girls”. Have your say at www.pbni.org.uk/consultations

The Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women & Girls addresses the range of gender-based violence, abuse & harm women & girls experience, rooted in gender inequality. PBNI CEO Amanda Stewart sits on the Oversight Board of EVAWG. 👉Read executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/topics/endin... #16Days

Leading up to #16DaysOfAction our #MidUlster team recently attended a @PCSP_S Domestic Violence ‘Empower & Educate’ event in Magherafelt. It was a great opportunity to link with our community partners, Women's Aid NI, Assist NI and PSNI about such an important issue.

We got feedback from Cllr. Caoimhín McCann about #CommunityService helping transform alleyways for local residents. Our Community Service teams have been working hard to clean & enhance alleyways to make them safer & more pleasant for residents. 🖥️Find out more at pbni.org.uk/community-se...

Becoming a #TraumaInformed organisation, we know that safety is not just for service users, it's vital for staff too. A trauma informed workplace fosters respect, transparency, open communication & staff wellbeing. In so doing, our staff are better equipped to support others.

Watch Chief Executive Amanda Stewart talk about our Corporate Plan 2026-29 consultation, the priorities it sets out and why getting responses is important. 📆 Consultation ends 16 Dec 25 🖥️ Respond to the consultation at pbni.org.uk/publication/... Watch the video www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5m1...

Community Service are already preparing for Christmas with Glenbank Community Association. Service users are building nativity scenes with their own artistic touch. 🖥️Find out more about #CommunityService at www.pbni.org.uk/community-se... #ChangingLives #SaferCommunities

PBNI Assistant Director Jill Grant & Assistant Principal Probation Officer Carmel Donnelly jointly hosted a successful cross-border public safeguarding workshop focused on mutual understanding, identifying barriers, sharing best practice and effective collaboration.

For #WorldQualityWeek we published a #ProbationMatters podcast about our Practice Performance and Research Unit (PPRU). PPRU's Claire Taylor talks about what PPRU is, why it is important & how it helps Probation practice & lead to improved outcomes 📻Listen now at open.spotify.com/episode/0FvG...

#CommunityService has been working at Quoile Countryside Centre. They removed old composting bays in order to build new ones. Hedges trimmed, debris removed cut, branches cut up & leaf blowing to finish off. Learn more about Community Service at pbni.org.uk/community-se...

Chief Executive Amanda Stewart was delighted to attend the Police Service of Northern Ireland event today marking the 10 year anniversary of the Public Protection Branch.

The PBNI Corporate Plan 2026-29 sets out how we plan to achieve our organisational aim of Changing Lives for Safer Communities. 📩We want to hear your views by 16 December. 👉Go to the consultation at pbni.org.uk/publication/... 📱Or use the QR code

This feedback shows how Community Service helps service users rebuild, take responsibility and contribute positively to their communities. Find out more about the work of Community Service at: www.pbni.org.uk/community-se...

Chief Executive Amanda Stewart & Board Chair Glenn Houston met with The Turnaround Project Director Richard Good and staff. This project provides important opportunities to assist people who have offended move into employment. Securing employment is key in reducing reoffending.

Board Chair Glenn Houston attended the Communication and Compliance team meeting today. Head of Communication Gail McGreevy and her team updated Glenn on the work they carry out to support frontline services reduce reoffending.

Probation achieved a lot in the last corporate plan. We are now consulting on our 2026-29 Corporate Plan. Your views are important and will help inform the future delivery of probation services throughout communities. 📆Consultation closes 16 December 2025 pbni.org.uk/publication/...

#CommunityService were involved in building & setting up a spooky trail for Glenbank Community Association this year. We hope everyone enjoyed a scary but safe #Halloween!!

We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Halloween over the weekend. Probation’s Community Service helped Greenisland community do something a little different for their kids Halloween bonfire. Along with the men’s shed and Strive there was a haunted house.

Feedback from a victim about how the victim information scheme has supported them. If you are a victim of crime you can register to the victim information scheme 👇 ☎️ 0300 123 3269 📧 [email protected] Online form: www.pbni.org.uk/victim-infor...