Alternatives become the first training provider in Northern Ireland to be awarded Registered Training Provider status
The RJC is pleased to announce that Northern Ireland Alternatives have been awarded Registered Training Provider status. They become the first training provider in Northern Ireland to be awarded registered status.
First established in 1998, Greater Shankill Alternatives was formed as a community-based restorative justice programme that aims to promote and develop non-violent community responses to the issues of low-level crime and antisocial behaviour in areas across Northern Ireland.
Initially set up as a three-year pilot programme, Northern Ireland Alternatives evolved to help develop and support new strategic restorative justice initiatives. Over a 12-year period of growth Alternatives opened, four new sites in North Belfast, Greater Shankill, East Belfast, South Belfast and Bangor, and in the past 12 months have developed initiatives in Portadown and Magherafelt.
Training is delivered by highly experienced trainers who continue to practice themselves.
Northern Ireland Alternatives have designed a suite of courses which are clearly structured and linked to the Restorative Justice Council’s Practice Guidance. Following a rigorous assessment process, Northern Ireland Alternatives have demonstrated they meet the quality standards set out in our Registered Training Provider Framework. This sets out how training providers should work and is broken into five performance indicators with each indicator consisting of a number of training standards.
Jim Simon, the RJC’s Chief Executive said:
“I am delighted that Northern Ireland Alternatives have become the first provider in Northern Ireland to be awarded the RJC’s Registered Training Provider status. At an important time in the further development of restorative practices across Northern Ireland, achievement of registered status provides participants and commissioners confidence in the quality of training being provided.”
Glenn Miller, Northern Ireland Alternatives Training Manager said:
“Receiving registered training status from the RJC feels like the icing on the cake for the work we have done to develop a rich training experience and relevant resources for all our participants. It is a recognition of all the hard work put in by the training department over the last three years and we are absolutely delighted to have achieved it.”
To find out more about Northern Ireland Alternatives visit their website or contact them directly via email at training@alternativesrj.co.uk