NIACRO has worked with colleagues in many organisations across the European Union, often as part of EU-funded projects, since the early 1990s. Current and recent initiatives include:
Membership of ExOCoP. This EU-wide network or “community of practice” is working on a three-year project to enhance understanding of what helps people resettle into their communities, with the emphasis on increasing skills and employability. Its aim is to influence policy at both national and EU level. Thirteen countries are currently taking part.
In May 2010 NIACRO hosted one of 18 workshops (on engaging employers) and in November 2010 NIACRO’s CEO chaired a seminar in Rome bringing together the results of three workshops, on engaging employers, prison work and networking. NIACRO staff have also taken part in events on women offenders, in Berlin, and on community links, in Bremen.
The programme will end with a conference in Berlin at the end of 2011.
Partner in “Challenge Hate Crime” project. This Peace III-funded joint project with the NI Prison Service draws on the expertise of colleagues from, among others, the Violence Prevention Network in Germany. We first worked with this NGO in two hate crime projects funded by the AGIS programme between 2004 and 2007. For more information on this project click here.
A continuing relationship with the German network HSI (“Haftvermeidung durch soziale Integration” which translates as “Social Integration for the Prevention of Imprisonment”). They had heard of our Jobtrack programme and wanted to come to Northern Ireland to hear more about it. Nine representatives of the network came to Belfast in November 2008 for a short but busy round of visits and discussions. Along with colleagues from NIPS and the Probation Service, four NIACRO staff went on a return visit to Germany in September 2009.
Both Jobtrack and HSI are keeping up the links and continuing to benefit from the very positive working partnership which has been established. HSI colleagues will visit Northern Ireland in September 2011 to learn more about our experience in employer engagement.
Other European links
We are also developing links with partners in Spain, Portugal and Italy.