Our Strategy: From Harm, to Help, to Hope
Victim Support has focused on addressing the harm caused to victims and witnesses of crime since 1981. On a daily basis we witness the impact of crime and the Criminal Justice System can have on an individual, their family, friends, and the local community.
Our new strategy, From Harm, to Help, to Hope: Balancing the Scales – Supporting Your Justice Journey for 2025-2030 outlines our direction of travel for the next five years.
The strategy reflects the believe that victims deserve more than just survival; they deserve support, dignity, and the opportunity to recover.
The strategy articulates 3 key milestones in a victim’s journey which enable Victim Support NI to:
- Respond effectively to the harm caused by the crime and potential harm experienced with the criminal justice system by mitigating the risks of re-traumatisation through early intervention and prevention
- Provide help and tailored support to the needs of victims and witnesses due to their lived experience of harm and in line with the obligations under the Victim and Witness Charters
- Foster hope for justice, promote recovery, prevent re-traumatisation and stimulate post-traumatic growth, through initiatives including therapeutic interventions, after court support, restorative justice and other initiatives.
Read the strategy here: Strategy document 2025-30.
Our new strategy commits us to listening to victims and witnesses, using evidence to influence change, and working in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies providing support that is joined-up, accessible, and effective. We know that when victims are supported, informed, and empowered, confidence in justice increase and the justice system itself becomes stronger, which in turn creates a fairer and safer society for everyone.
