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Extern welcomes the publication of the Public Accounts Committee Report on Reducing Adult Reoffending in Northern Ireland.
Extern Director of Communities and Family Services, Emma Purdon said – “We are encouraged to see many of the recommendations align with the priorities outlined in the evidence we presented to the Public Accounts Committee on 10 April 2025.
“We strongly support the Report’s focus on rehabilitation for short-term prisoners, improved cross-departmental collaboration, and recognition of the Voluntary and Community Sector’s (VCS) essential role in providing criminal justice services and programmes for successful reintegration.
“Extern’s Short Term Prisoner Support Programme, piloted in partnership with the Northern Ireland Prison Service, is already demonstrating tangible, early impact on reoffending rates and is currently under formal evaluation.”
Ms Purdon concluded, “We also endorse the Committee's call for multi-year funding for the sector—an opportunity now made possible through the UK Government’s 2025 Spending Review. Sustainable investment for the VCS is essential to maintaining and scaling the services that are proven to reduce reoffending and build stronger communities.”
Download our full submission to the Public Accounts Committee here
Read the Public Accounts Committee - Report on Reducing Adult Reoffending in Northern Ireland here