The Girls' Empowerment Programme in Lurgan has been selected as a finalist in the Partnerships category of the Police Service of Northern Ireland Problem Solving Awards.

The programme operates as a collaboration between the PSNI, the local Community Safety Partnership, and the Education Authority. It functions as a trauma-informed early intervention to address violence against women and girls in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon area.

Delivery occurs through Taghnevan Youth Club and Youth Annex in Lurgan to girls aged 12 to 14. Sessions cover healthy relationships, consent, substance misuse, and online safety.

Participants gained skills via make-up accreditations and visits to People First, a local training provider. Constable Laura Cathcart of the Lurgan Neighbourhood Policing Team contributed to the project.

Partners included Women’s Aid, Invisible Traffick, Start 360, PIPs, People First, PCSP/ABC Council, and EA Youth Service. The initiative united girls from varied community backgrounds.

Assessments indicated participants showed higher confidence and emotional literacy. Girls reported greater trust in police and readiness to seek assistance.

The programme works to counter harmful norms, encourage sound decisions, and create peer support for resilience and safety.