The government has been asked to clarify its plans to succeed the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which replaced funding for communities from the European Union under the previous Conservative government.
In her spending review, chancellor Rachel Reeves said the current government would complete its transition from UKSPF by providing “targeted, long-term local growth funding to support regional growth across the UK”.
Support from 2026 will comprise a new local growth fund, she said last month, as well as investments in 350 deprived communities across the UK.
However, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) has called for greater clarity about what funding will be available, warning that “continued uncertainty is a real concern”.
It has written to several senior government ministers including Keir Starmer and launched a campaign called NI Can’t Wait.
‘Cliff-edge’ fears
NICVA raised concerns last year about the end of UKSPF, with fellow umbrella body NCVO also warning about the impact a potential funding gap could have on British charities.
Employment services charities have also reported a reduction in funding since money from the European Social Fund (ESF) was phased out in 2023.
In its campaign document published this month, NICVA said: “Continued delays in decision-making about how the fund will be managed and delivered in Northern Ireland are putting these vital services at risk.
“If nothing changes, over 11,000 vulnerable and marginalised people regionally could be left without access to the tailored help and support they need, and the 64 voluntary and community sector organisations currently involved in the delivery of these programmes [would be] unable to sustain vital services and support.
“Our sector has already felt the impact of losing ESF support and dealing with the late decision-making, and reduced scope and funding levels of UKSPF – it cannot be expected to sustain a further cliff edge in terms of funding.
“Services have been stretched thin, and organisations have already been forced to scale back the range of services and support they can provide – impacting directly on organisations and those they support.”
Civil Society has contacted the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for comment.
Potential law change
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities (DfC) has opened a public consultation on proposed changes to section 167 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008.
This section applies to institutions that operate in or from Northern Ireland but are not established under its law and therefore cannot register as charities with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Following a review of charity regulation in Northern Ireland, DfC will be potentially amending the law to help clarify the organisations that fall under it and how section 167 will work in practice.
