NSPCC Northern Ireland’s Young Witness Service marks 25 years

NSPCC Northern Ireland’s Young Witness Service has supported more than 8,000 children and young people giving evidence in court since it was set up 25 years ago.

An event to mark it’s anniversary was held recently at The Dunsilly Hotel, with speakers including Sir John Gillen, author of the Gillen Review, Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland, representatives from the Department of Justice NI, NSPCC staff and Young Witness Service volunteers. 

In 1999, NSPCC Northern Ireland created The Young Witness Service (YWS) which is the only one of its kind in the UK and is co funded by the Department of Justice NI. It was designed to provide specialist support and guidance for young witnesses because the charity realised that appearing in court as a witness could be a daunting experience, especially for young people. Since it began, the Service has supported more than 8000 children and young people across Northern Ireland.

The Service had humble beginnings as a pilot project, housed in a small office in Antrim Courthouse with one staff member, Avery Bowser. Shortly afterwards, he was joined by volunteer Margaret Andrews. Together they provided support for young witnesses in Belfast Crown Court. The Young Witness Service started to provide support in the North West soon after, with Hugh Kennedy signing up as the first volunteer. The service then expanded over the next few years, to support children across all Crown Courts in Northern Ireland.  

Since then, the staff and volunteers of the Bishop Street based Service have continued to support children and young people in all the courts in the area. Hugh’s son, Gary Kennedy, has followed in his late father’s footsteps by joining the dedicated team of volunteers in the North West.

 In 2012, in collaboration with co-funders the Department of Justice NI that recognised the importance and impact of the work, the Service was extended to support young witnesses in both Youth and Magistrates Courts. This meant that every victim of crime under 18 years of age could be offered support from the YWS. 

Now, celebrating its 25th anniversary, the free and independent service has 15 staff and 55 dedicated volunteers.  It operates in every court in Northern Ireland; last year alone the YWS provided support to almost 500 young people and their families. 

Sir John Gillen said: “Borrowing from a Michelangelo quotation, the Young Witness Service is the angel in the marble of the criminal justice system. All children and young people, whilst often poignantly fragile, have unique talents, strengths, and capabilities waiting to be discovered and nurtured.  

Volunteers from the North West (left to right) Pearl Woodburn, Basil Dalton, Gary Kennedy, Jenni Boyce NSPCC Young Witness Service Partnerships Service Manager, Sir John Gillen, Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland,  Jamie Laverty, Decoa Graham, Russell Brown and Linda Southhall.

“From within the raw material of the court system the NSPCC Young Witness Service, over the last 25 years, has carved a masterpiece that has served to release the full potential of those children and young people facing the daunting challenges of the legal process.” 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Service - they meet the young person on the day of the case, sometimes before it starts, and support them throughout it. This is vital because parents or guardians cannot legally stay with them when they give evidence, which can be very distressing for the young person giving evidence. 

The volunteers take time to explain to the Young Witness what to expect at court, who they will meet and thus help them navigate their way through the system. They stay with them while they give evidence - sometimes this is done remotely in special remote evidence centres which have video-links to court.  Although they are not permitted to speak to them, once cross-examination starts, volunteers are there as a reassuring and familiar presence. 

Geraldine Hanna, Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate for Northern Ireland, said: “I’m not sure anyone will ever be able to convey just how important the job of the NSPCC Young Witness Service is or the impact they’ve had over the last quarter of a century.

“There are literally thousands of children who, when they were at their most lonely, their most frightened, had someone who cared to reach out and metaphorically put an arm around them.

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“There are no words for just how life-changing that can be.

“The criminal justice system in Northern Ireland has serious challenges, I spend a lot of time talking about them. But I also know, that when things are bad, you look for the helpers.

Jenni Boyce, Sir John Gillen and Geraldine Hanna.

“There is no better example of that than the NSPCC Young Witness Service staff and volunteers. We all owe them our thanks for the tireless, compassionate work they do for some of the most vulnerable in our society.”

Jenni Boyce, NSPCC Young Witness Service Partnerships Service Manager, said: “We are so delighted to celebrate this important milestone.  Our commitment to supporting young people hasn’t wavered over the last quarter of a century, and indeed there have been many changes during this time which have improved the Criminal Justice system.

"In the Young Witness Service, we have continued to grow - most importantly in the increased team of volunteers who provide support before and during court cases.

 “Over the past 25 years, we have supported over 8,000 young people and we continue to advocate and lobby for the rights and needs of young witnesses across all courts in Northern Ireland.

"We offer heartfelt thanks to our incredible team of staff and volunteers who have supported young witnesses since the Service began. Their contribution is immeasurable, and we are profoundly grateful for all they do.”