A religious charity closely involved in prisoner care is to be recognised today.

Quaker Service, a family welfare charity pioneered and developed by the Religious Society of Friends (known as Quakers), is celebrating 40 years of providing services in Northern Ireland.

At an event in Stormont - hosted by Junior Ministers Gerry Kelly and Robin Newton - a Quaker volunteer who was based n Belfast in the troubled days of the 1970s will be the special keynote speaker.

Stephen Pittam, who is also the Trust Secretary of the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, will be joined at the event by other speakers including volunteers and senior staff.

Many of these people have been involved in setting up various services and programmes over the years for families and children, particularly at the Long Kesh/Maze Prison complex and at Quaker Cottage in west Belfast.

The event also provides an opportunity to launch the book 'Coming from the Silence', which describes the work of four major projects and a number of smaller initiatives taking place between 1969 and 2007, setting the work in a wider Quaker context. Stephen Pittam, who also penned the preface of the book, said: "The fundamental belief of that of God in all people has led Quakers to bear witness for equality, justice, reconciliation and peace throughout the world.

"It is these values that underpin all the work described here (in the book)," he said.

Roy Blair, Chairman of Quaker Service, said: "We are welcoming many friends from our past and present and sharing our experiences over the past 40 years.

"Quaker Service emerged as a response to the outbreak of sectarian violence in 1969 and has developed into a professional family and childcare agency providing a range of support and therapeutic services in the largest prison in Northern Ireland and at a cross community family centre in West Belfast," he explained.

(BMcC/KMcA)