NSPCC Northern Ireland

30/09/2026

28/09/2026

We are so very proud of wonderful Sebastian, our Court Therapy Dog, along with his equally wonderful owner, and staff member, Megan!
Sebastian won the Animal Award category in the recent and prestigious BBC Radio Ulster BBC Radio Foyle Make a Difference Awards 2026.
Both Sebastian and Megan were recognised with this great honour for their vital work with NSPCC Northern Ireland Young Witness Service which supports children and young people who give evidence in criminal court.
More congratulations are in order for Barbara Walker who recently retired as a volunteer with Young Witness Service, after an incredible 18 years. She was also a finalist in the Make a Difference awards which was recognition for all her tireless work and dedication, helping many, many families when they are going through the court system.
Huge congratulations to Barbara, Megan and of course, our fabulous, amazing and award winning Sebastian
💚

24/09/2026

Ahead of the BBC Radio Ulster BBC Radio Foyle Make a Difference Awards 2026 tomorrow night, we wanted to wish our finalists good luck!

Sebastian, our Court Therapy Dog, is a finalist in the Animal Award category. Sebastian and his owner Megan are part of our Young Witness Service, and they have been recognised for their vital support to children and young people who give evidence in criminal court. Megan chatted to Anne-Marie Wallace at Radio Ulster about their experience - listen in tonight after 6pm!

Our other finalist is the amazing Barbara Walker, who recently retired as a Young Witness Service volunteer after an amazing 18 years with the Service. She has helped countless families navigate the complex court system throughout her time, and you can listen back to her interview on the Connor Phillips show from 17th September https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0031hfx. (21 minutes in).

The award winners will be announced on a special broadcast of The Vinny & Cate Show on BBC Radio Ulster tomorrow night. No matter what the outcome, they are all winners to us 💚.

16/09/2026

Our Young Witness Service staff and volunteers recently visited the Foyle Family Justice Centre to learn about the wonderful services they provide to individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse.

Thank you to Marie Brown, the CEO and Director of the Foyle Family Justice Centre and Foyle Women's Aid, and Roisin Hamill, Children and Young People Service Manager, for welcoming us to the centre.

15/09/2026

We are hiring!

We are looking for Helpline Practitioners to join the NSPCC team in Belfast!
If you have a professional background in safeguarding, child welfare or social care, this is the chance to make a real impact.

🔑 The role: Responding to telephone and online child safety concerns from the public and professionals; by assessing risk, taking appropriate safeguarding action and providing vital safeguarding advice.
📍 Where: Belfast (BT15) but ability to work 1:3 weeks at home.
💰 Pay: £34,582 base salary plus shift allowances.
☀️ Benefits: Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 29 days (increasing to 32 days after 5 years), we match your pension up to 7% and ongoing development opportunities offered.

Help us keep children safe across the UK 💚

Apply here:

Interested in a job with the NSPCC? Search our vacancies and help keep every child safe in one of our paid roles.

11/09/2026

Thanks to Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for having our Senior Consultant at NSPCC Sport, Paul Stephenson, on their latest podcast. It was a great discussion covering some of Paul's and the NSPCC's important work in Northern Ireland - please have a listen if you can!

25/08/2026

Recently some of our staff had a fantastic day at the annual Ould Lammas Fair in the beautiful seaside town of Ballycastle. It was wonderful opportunity to connect with the local community and to speak to so many people about the services that we provide 💚

To find out more about NPSCC services in Northern Ireland, visit
nspcc.org.uk/northernireland

26/07/2026

We had an amazing day at belfastpride yesterday and loved seeing the crowds out supporting the day.

Thank you to all the volunteers who came along to walk with us and to everyone who cheered us on. We were privileged to be a part of such wonderful event and are proud to be there for every child, every day.

03/07/2026

As part of our pledge to End Violence Against Women and Girls, NSPCC Northern Ireland staff and volunteers were privileged to receive specialist training this week from Nexus in our Foyle and Belfast hubs.

The training topics included what violence against women and girls is, the root causes of harmful behaviours and attitudes, the impact on individuals, workplaces and societies and how to challenge inappropriate and harmful behaviours safely.

Thanks again to Nexus for the hugely beneficial session

23/06/2026

Young Witness Service volunteers in final of BBC Make a Difference Awards 2026!
We are so proud and delighted that two of our amazing volunteers have been announced as finalists in these prestigious awards which are run by BBC local radio, across the UK, to celebrate everyday heroes and unsung champions in local communities.
Sebastian, our Court Therapy Dog is a finalist in the The Animal Award category and we are delighted that he has been recognised for his remarkable and vital support to children and young people who give evidence in criminal court. Known as the “Professional Cuddler”, for obvious reasons, the 3 year old St Bernard x Bernese Mountain Dog helps children feel relaxed and safe during a stressful time. He is pictured with his owner and Young Witness staff member, Megan when they both visited BBC Northern Ireland recently.
We are equally thrilled that Barbara Walker has been selected as a finalist in The Volunteer Award category. Barbara has recently retired after an amazing 18 years with the Service and over this time has helped and supported countless young witnesses navigate the complex court system.
The award winners will be announced on a special broadcast of The Vinny & Cate Show on BBC Radio Ulster in September and we wish them both all the luck in the world 💚