Kilcooley Community Forum: New Decade for Development

IMPACT

26 Feb, 2010

Baroness Scotland (Attorney General) Opens New North Down Alternatives Office

Baroness Scotland (Attorney General) & Lady Sylvia visiting Kilcooley

One hour before the arrival of the Baroness an entourage of media and paparazzi arrived at Kilcooley Square in the hope they could get a brief interview with either the Baroness or Lady Sylvia. A gazebo had been erected to house the press and prevent them from needing to access the main venue, 2 Kilcooley Square.

On arrival the Baroness was met by Lady Sylvia and Mark Gordon, in his role as Chairman of North Down Alternatives Advisory Board. After a brief stop to speak with the media the invited guests entered the new offices of North Down Alternatives community based restorative justice project and greeted the large number of people invited to the event. Baroness Scotland was delighted to meet the staff from North Down Alternatives Jim Martin, Jim Rea and Maureen Gibson. Lady Sylvia introduced the Baroness to many others who were there representing their organisations, including PSNI, Probation, Include Youth, NIHE, Youth Justice Agency, Department for Social Development and Department for Irish Foreign Affairs.

Mark Gordon called attention and began by welcoming the Baroness to Kilcooley and thanking Lady Sylvia for arranging the visit. He spoke about the work of community based restorative justice and the impact it has made for good in the wider community. Lady Sylvia Hermon then acknowledged the excellent work carried out by her friend as Attorney General and gave a glowing report of the work of North Down Alternatives. Baroness Scotland thanked Sylvia for inviting her to North Down and she too praised the work carried out by the staff of both North Down Alternatives and the Northern Ireland Alternatives offices. The Baroness said she wanted it on record that she knew the hard work and commitment given by those who do the work on the ground and she wanted it known she had come over to specifically say “thank you” for what they do. After Baroness Scotland the next person invited to speak was Mr Jerome Burns from the Department for Social Development. Mark Gordon had told the guests of the commitment of this department by Andrew Petrie, Jerome Burns and Minister Margaret Ritchie to the renewal of Kilcooley. Jerome said he was delighted to be invited to the event and speaking on behalf of the Minister who could not attend because of an Executive Meeting he announced the Minister was pleased to fund the work of NI Alternatives (non protocol work) and was happy to know the new offices would also provide education opportunities for men in Kilcooley. He further said the Minister was happy to endorse the Kilcooley Community Forum’s recent application for funding. He said the Department had appraised and approved funding for the next three years for the Forum, however due to the comprehensive review of public administration, funding would be in place from April 2010 to March 2011 with the hope of a further two years funding when everyone is clear about the outcome of the review. This announcement was well received and Mark Gordon asked that the Forum’s thanks be extended to the Minister, Andrew Petrie and to all who have supported the work of the Forum. The final speaker was the Director for Northern Ireland Alternatives, Mr Tom Winstone who thanked Lady Sylvia for her continued support for community based restorative justice. He also thanked the Baroness for agreeing to open the new office in Kilcooley. Tom then drew people’s attention to the Criminal Justice Inspector’s Report on CBRJ which was “hot off the press” and highlighted just some of the very positive and encouraging remarks contained within it about the effectiveness of Northern Ireland Alternatives and the four sites they manage. The Baroness ensured she got a copy of the report and again emphasised her support of the work. As the Baroness officially opened the new offices a plaque was unveiled showing her name and she said, “Although it is nice to have my name on this plaque and I endorse this work, what really is important to me is that the people here know I came to Bangor to say thank you for what you do.”

Jamie Bryson and Maureen Gibson then presented both the Baroness and Lady Sylvia with bouquets of flowers. Refreshments were provided and each guest was given the opportunity to meet and speak with Baroness Scotland.

The entire event was a wonderful success and Kilcooley Community Forum want to personally thank Baroness Scotland, Lady Sylvia Hermon, the staff and volunteers of North Down Alternatives and all the people who helped make this day go so very well. Well done to North Down Alternatives and all the best in your new offices.

North Down Alternatives would like to thank the staff and volunteers from Kilcooley Square Centre who provided the refreshments.

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