Hagan Homes, one of Northern Ireland’s leading homebuilders, has announced a transformative £150,000 partnership with Belfast-based charity Start360.
The funding will support Start360’s Volunteer Service, which helps individuals with experience of the criminal justice system and facing complex personal and social challenges find structure, purpose, and new opportunities through volunteering, with the aim of rebuilding lives and breaking cycles of harmful behaviour.
The new pledge follows the success of a £75,000 pilot project in the last two years which Hagan Homes supported. It means now, the firm has doubled its commitment, funding an additional £75,000 to fully support the continuation of Start360’s Volunteer Service.
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This innovative volunteer service, spearheaded by Start360’s first-ever full-time Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Johnny Moore, creates tailored training, mentorship, and work experience pathways for individuals seeking purpose, recovery, and personal development.
Jim Burke, Managing Director, Hagan Homes, discusses the partnership: “At Hagan Homes, we believe in building communities, not just homes. When we understood the real-life impact this service could have; people gaining confidence, breaking destructive cycles, and even securing employment, we knew we had to support it. This partnership aligns with our values of compassion, empowerment and lasting change.”
Start360 has been working with vulnerable communities for over 30 years and now supports 20,000 people annually across health, justice, and employability services. Its Volunteer Service is a core component of the charity’s mission, “Change Starts Here,” providing meaningful opportunities for individuals who are often overlooked by traditional support systems.
Danny McQuillan, Chief Executive, Start360, adds: “Thanks to Hagan Homes, we’ve created something truly unique. Our volunteers - many of whom have lived through the same challenges as those we support - are making a real impact. This partnership is more than funding; it’s about belief in second chances.”
The Volunteer Service has already yielded impressive results:
· 90% of volunteers said the service improved their employability
· 100% felt fully supported throughout
· 91% saw improvements in mental health and substance use
· 81% reported the service was a key factor in not reoffending
· 100% success rate at job interviews
Start360’s Volunteer Service is delivering measurable social impact, not just for the individuals it supports, but for their families, communities, and society as a whole. While the justice system can be limited in the long-term, person-centred support needed to reduce offending behaviours, this service steps in to fill that gap.
With a focus on purpose, routine, and responsibility, the service has helped over 50 individuals move forward in life. Of those, there is a 5% recidivism rate, and each volunteer who has gone on to gain employment or access further education has been successful at securing their primary goals.
The ripple effects of the service are far reaching. For example, family relationships are repaired, confidence is rebuilt, and communities feel the benefit. With custodial sentences costing the state £51,724 per person annually according to Secretary of State for Justice in the UK Hansard reports statistics, prevention and rehabilitation through services like this offer not only a person-centred solution but a more cost-effective one. And partnerships like the one with Hagan Homes is helping to scale this impact, offering hope and practical support where it’s needed most.
Johnny Moore, Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Start360, comments:
“The service has already seen some significant results; the outcomes speak for themselves. This is a service of change and harnessing the skills and passion to do good that comes with lived experience has been powerful, for our services and the Volunteers Journey's. This service gives the applicants the support and direction needed to make lasting change and not just change their lives, but the lives of those around them.
“I will always be grateful to Hagan Homes for providing the opportunity for Start360 to facilitate such a service, one that I believe will reach many people over the coming years.”
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Volunteers participating in the Start360 service undertake a structured pathway that includes safeguarding training, mentoring, qualifications, and real-world experience in both custodial and community settings.
The stories of transformation are powerful. One volunteer shared: "I have love. I have life. I have hope. I have peace. The road is long, but the journey has begun here. Thank you."
This partnership is a shining example of how corporate responsibility and grassroots action can work together to create a stronger, more inclusive Northern Ireland.
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