‘You Matter’ packs to support Hydebank prisoners starting life after release

Prison staff at Hydebank Wood College have teamed up with Start 360 and Ardoyne Youth Club in a new pilot project supporting prisoners leaving prison by providing each one with a ‘You Matter’ pack of toiletries including toothpaste, shower gel and antiperspirant as well as water and cuppa soup. Pictured are Grainne Griffith, Start 360, Seaneen Farrelly, Hydebank Wood Prisoner Development Unit Governor, and Stephen Konrad, Ardoyne YC Youth Worker.

Prisoners leaving Hydebank Wood College are to receive practical help at the point of release under a new pilot project designed to support some of the most vulnerable people as they begin life on the outside.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has partnered with Start 360 and Ardoyne Youth Club to provide individuals leaving custody with a ‘You Matter’ pack, containing essential toiletries such as toothpaste, shower gel and antiperspirant, along with bottled water and cuppa soup.

The initiative recognises that while many people leaving prison will have accommodation arranged, others face a far more uncertain transition. For those without immediate support networks, even basic items can make a meaningful difference in the hours and days following release.

Hydebank Prisoner Development Unit Governor Seaneen Farrelly said the project offers both practical assistance and reassurance at a critical moment.

“While most people leaving prison will have a place to live, for some, leaving prison will be an uncertain time and can mean they have nowhere to stay. This project gives practical support and a sense of dignity at a critical point in their lives. I want to thank Start 360 for getting this project off the ground and the fantastic young people from Ardoyne Youth Club who turned an idea into reality.”

The pilot has been shaped through collaboration between statutory services, community organisations and young people, highlighting the role local partnerships can play in addressing complex social challenges linked to reoffending and resettlement.

Ardoyne Youth Club members are providing practical support to prisoners leaving Hydebank Wood College with a ‘You Matter’ pack of toiletries including toothpaste, shower gel and antiperspirant, as well as water and cuppa soup. Included in the picture are Seaneen Farrelly, Hydebank Wood Prisoner Development Unit Governor, Grainne Griffith, Start 360, and Stephen Konrad, Ardoyne YC Youth Worker.

Grainne Griffith, Services Manager at Start 360, said the project demonstrates the impact of working together across sectors.

“The project is a great example of working in partnership, bringing together Start360 and Hydebank as well as the incredible young people from Ardoyne Youth Club, whose creativity and commitment have been instrumental in shaping this work. This highlights the power of community collaboration in tackling some of the most complex social challenges.”

A key human interest element of the initiative is the involvement of young people from Ardoyne Youth Club, who helped turn the idea into a practical reality. Their contribution reflects a broader message about empathy, civic responsibility and supporting positive outcomes for people at risk of exclusion.

Stephen Konrad from Ardoyne Youth Club said the project aligned closely with the club’s values.

“This was a great opportunity for the young men in our Club to help people less fortunate than ourselves. Our Club motto is ‘Believe, Achieve, Succeed’ and we hope our work can help people leaving prison to get the support that they need to succeed.”

Those behind the pilot hope the initiative will not only meet immediate needs, but also reinforce a sense of worth and encouragement at a moment when individuals may feel most vulnerable, potentially helping to lay foundations for more stable reintegration into the community.