A new Business in the Community Employers' Forum for Reducing Reoffending, which aims to address the employment barriers faced by individuals leaving the prison system and looking for work, has been announced by Justice Minister Naomi Long.

‘The Bridge' was launched at Hydebank Wood Secure College and was attended by guests including Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons in the UK.

The new forum will bring together senior business representatives from the private sector to share best practice and provide a network of support, with the ultimate goal of improving job prospects for offenders.

Minister Long emphasised that employment is one of the most powerful tools available to reduce reoffending and support rehabilitation. "Employment is one of the most powerful tools we have to reduce reoffending and support rehabilitation. Having a job provides more than a wage—it gives people purpose, identity, and a sense of belonging," she stated.

The Minister added that employment builds self-esteem and financial independence, which reduces the pressures that can lead people back into offending. It also strengthens families and helps to break the cycle of offending across generations.

"By connecting business with rehabilitation, The Bridge helps build a more inclusive economy where everyone has the chance to succeed," Minister Long commented.

Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, welcomed the initiative: "Getting people back into work is crucial for preventing reoffending and helping them build new lives away from crime." He called the Employers' Forum a "great example of government and business working together to make our streets safer."

Minister Long paid tribute to the forum's leadership, thanking Trevor Annon and Lorna McAdoo, Co-Chairs of the Employers' Forum, for their vision.