£1.8m in Core Grant funding announced for Community & Voluntary sector

Date published: 19 February 2025

Subject to final checks, the funding will be provided to 25 community and voluntary sector organisations and is intended to support them with core operating costs.

The £1.8m funding has been maintained at the same level as last year, despite the ongoing severe pressures on the Health budget.

Announcing the funding from the redesigned Core Grant Scheme, Mr Nesbitt said: “I am very proud of the many capable, agile and vibrant community and voluntary sector organisations which work alongside statutory services to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland, in very many cases in direct partnership with the Health & Social Care sector. 

“I have been determined to support the sector as much as possible knowing how much it can and indeed already does help my Department to deliver better outcomes to some of the most vulnerable in our society.

“It was therefore very important to me that we put in place a new Core Grant scheme, and one that was co-designed with the community and voluntary sector.

“The Department received a total of 259 applications and the standard of submissions has reinforced the incredibly valuable contribution that those organisations make towards health and social care outcomes.

“While I regret that the indicative Health budget allocation for 2025/26 does not permit me to offer funding to more of the 259 applicants, I am pleased to be able to announce that more than £1.8m in funding will be provided, subject to final checks with the 25 organisations, to support them with core costs in 2025/26.

“When I announced my plan to redesign the scheme in July 2024, I made it clear that my intention was to address the fundamental unfairness in the previous scheme, which has funded the same organisations for more than 20 years.

“I wanted the scheme to be open and transparent, and for as many organisations as possible to be able to bid for funding. Naturally, introducing competition meant that there would be winners and losers, but those who have missed out this time will have a further opportunity later this year to bid for funding in 2026/27. ”

The Minister also expressed his gratitude to NICVA, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, which helped co design the scheme along with community and voluntary organisations.

Celine McStravick, NICVA Chief Executive, said: “NICVA welcomes the announcement of core funding for the voluntary and community sector and congratulates the 25 organisations that have secured support. However, with 259 applications submitted, it is clear that demand far outweighs the funding available. Many organisations doing vital work in our communities will be deeply concerned about their ability to continue providing essential services without this funding.

“While this modest, one-year funding is an important step, it does not provide the long-term sustainability that the sector urgently needs. NICVA will continue to work with the Department of Health to advocate for a longer-term, three-year core funding model that offers stability and security for the organisations serving communities across Northern Ireland.”