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Today is Hidden Heroes Day(external link opens in a new window / tab) and Probation were honoured to have Justice Minister Naomi Long visit to help celebrate Hidden Heroes Day with staff.
The Minister was welcomed by Chief Executive Amanda Stewart along with Director of Operations Gillian Montgomery, senior leadership and staff. The Minister had come to Probation to present two Hidden Heroes Awards, one to Probation Service Officer Carol Taylor and one to Community Service Supervisor Paul Best.
Carol had been nominated by a service user a year after he had finished his community service and had continued helping at the cancer charity he did his placement in. Paul had been nominated by Annadale Allotments Committee for all the work he had done supervising squads at the allotment.
Assistant Director Melissa Spence also received a Hidden heroes award from her team, who nominated her for the award, while in Ballymena.
Watch below the Minister's video highlighting Hidden Heroes Day.
Chief Executive Amanda Stewart also wrote to staff in an email highlighting today's event and in it Amanda said, "Today is Hidden Heroes Day, which is a day set aside by the Butler Trust to recognise people working in probation, prisons and youth justice who carry out their roles often below the radar and away from public view. I wanted to take the opportunity of Hidden Heroes Day to say thank you to everyone for all that you do to help make communities here safer. Whether you work in an operational team or are part of our corporate service teams we all have the shared aim of helping change lives."
Amanda finished, "I am incredibly proud to be Chief Executive of this organisation, and I think you are all Hidden Heroes every day. I want to thank each of you for the valuable contribution you make to PBNI and all of our communities."