Representatives of the NI Prison Service and its education partner, Belfast Metropolitan College, were joined by local actor Dan Gordon at the opening of the refurbished library.

Prison service director Ronnie Armour said: “Since its transition into a secure College, Hydebank Wood has gone from strength to strength with learning and skills central to its rehabilitative work. The opening of this new centre is an investment in the potential of the people who live in Hydebank.

“Learning is at the core of the Hydebank community and this is a safe environment for the young men and women to re-engage with education and work based skills. With our partners in Belfast Metropolitan College we can support and challenge those people to change, to learn and to become employable.

“Everything we know says, if someone has skills and is employable after release back into the community, then they are less likely to reoffend and that helps us to build a safer community.”

Speaking at the opening, Mr Gordon said: “I first started coming into Hydebank in the early 2000s to work with the young men and to try to steer them down a different path. I believe in second chances, especially when you are young.

“People need to be encouraged to take a different path when they come back into society. My father, who was a shipyard worker, used to say don’t stand and wonder how to do it – do it and wonder how you did it.”

Kathleen O’Hare, from Belfast Metropolitan College, said: “This facility will provide us with the opportunity to deliver a range of vocational, essential skills and employability programmes. This means our students at Hydebank can leave with the same level of accreditation as any other student at one of our colleges. This is all part of our work to address social inclusion and increase life chances for people leaving custody.”