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“Transformation in action” – Justice Minister praises prison partnership at 10-year anniversary event
Caption: Richard Taylor Governor of Hydebank Wood Secure College & Women’s Prison, Beverley Wall Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service and Damian Duffy interim Principal and CE of Belfast Met
Belfast Met’s pivotal role in the transformation of Hydebank Wood was praised this week at an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the prison becoming a secure college.
Speaking at the event, Justice Minister Naomi Long commended the vital partnership between the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and Belfast Metropolitan College.
“This collaboration has brought a wealth of expertise, ensuring that the educational provision is of the highest quality and directly relevant to the needs of the people who live here. The opportunities to gain recognised qualifications, from basic skills to advanced vocational training, are invaluable in equipping prisoners for a life beyond the prison walls,” said the Minister.
The partnership with Belfast Met has led to the evolution of Hydebank Wood as a young offenders centre with a firm focus on security; into Northern Ireland's first secure college, a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and unwavering commitment.
Belfast Metropolitan College’s interim Principal and Chief Executive Damian Duffy said: “The College is delighted to have been working in partnership with the Prison Service over the last ten years. This collaboration has played a key role in the transformation of the prison into what it is today as a secure college with education, training and skills acquisition at its core.
“Over the past decade Belfast Metropolitan College has been at the forefront of shaping prison education and is committed to securing outcomes for some of the most marginalised in our society. This commitment plays a key role in highlighting the benefits to individuals to include improved self-esteem and wellbeing; all of which provides for improved life chances and successful reintegration into society upon release.”
Minister Long concluded by saying that the journey of reform within the Northern Ireland Prison Service, exemplified by Hydebank Wood, is a testament to the belief that even within the confines of a secure environment, hope can flourish, and lives can be changed for the better.