The Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI) launched its Service User Involvement Strategy 2025–2030 at Clifton House, Belfast, setting out a five-year plan to embed co-production and participation across probation practice, policy, and service improvement.

The strategy builds on nearly a decade of work to involve people with lived experience of the justice system, including those who have offended and those who are victims. It commits PBNI to inclusive and ethical service user involvement, aimed at achieving better outcomes and safer communities.

At the launch event, attendees heard a strategic overview and took part in a 20-minute panel discussion on the benefits of service user groups, featuring service user, practitioner, and partner perspectives. 

Launching, the strategy director of operations Gillian Montgomery said: “Service user involvement isn’t an add on – it’s essential to developing effective, and responsive services. This strategy is about listening, learning, and engaging with people who know the system best from lived experience, so we can improve outcomes and help change lives for safer communities.

“We’re committed to authentic, safe and inclusive participation—moving beyond consultation to co production where appropriate. You’ll see this through strengthened local service user forums, and the development of roles such as Peer Mentors to support service delivery and training.”

Tony, a service user attending the event said: “Being involved has helped me feel heard and respected, and it means services better reflect real needs. It’s not tokenism—our ideas are taken seriously, and we can see changes happening.”