Background to the Research

• NIITA was commissioned by the DHSS to compile a Directory of Diversionary Services and this was published in 1996. This report was written to provide further information about the extent of available services involved in diversionary work with young people in the community.
  

Research Approach

• A revised self-administered questionnaire was circulated to all projects, 79 were completed.
  

Main Findings

• There is a concentration of projects in the East of the province, with 76% based in Belfast, Down and Antrim.
• Statutory agencies, notably ELBs and the PBNI make a substantial contribution to the costs of the Projects.
• Over 80% of Projects had a Management or Advisory Group with community, parents and young people the 3 largest representatives.
• The majority of Projects focus on young people at risk of custody and/or care, though few target one exclusive group.
• Ninety-three per cent of Projects offer mixed gender provision, and the rest male only. No Project catered exclusively for females, despite the extent of identified need amongst young women.
• A range of open-ended and fixed term programmes are available.
• Services range from task specific (e.g. helping homeless) to diversionary activities (e.g. leisure provision).
• Most Projects (87%) state they are open in the evenings.
• The Probation Board is the largest single source of referrals, followed by Social Services Departments, Community and Self.
• Seventy per cent of Projects use a formal staff recruitment and vetting policy.
• Over 90% of Projects report maintaining a monitoring and evaluation system, less than 20% incorporate client feedback in this.