Nearly 24,000 people face losing vital community services with funding on cliff edge
Charities and community organisations across Northern Ireland are warning that nearly 24,000 people could be left without vital support unless urgent action is taken on future funding from the UK Government.
The NI Can’t Wait campaign, launched by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA), is focused on highlighting delays from the UK Government about a new funding programme to replace the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
This campaign is supported by the Economic Inactivity Coalition, a network of voluntary and community sector organisations delivering vital, community-led support to those furthest from the labour market.
The current scheme is due to expire in just over 6 months’ time (March 2026), but no details about how it will be delivered in NI or the scale of funding have been confirmed. From September 2025, organisations may be forced to begin planning for service closures and winding down vital programmes if clarity is not given.
“We are ringing the alarm and calling for leadership on this issue. Groups right across NI are calling out for help. They need clear information about what the scheme will entail next year for the thousands of people they support and the jobs they create,” Celine McStravick said.
Northern Ireland continues to face some of the highest levels of economic inactivity in the UK. Over the last two years (2023-2025) the UKSPF funded the work of 15 VCS led organisations and helped nearly 24,000 people who face barriers to work move closer to employment.
These beneficiaries including people with disabilities, lone parents, carers and those with health conditions.
If the scheme ends, the future of 64 community organisations and hundreds of jobs that deliver these life-changing services are also at risk.
NICVA Chief Executive Celine McStravick said the voluntary and community sector needed answers now, not in the future.
“There is a distinct lack of information coming to the sector from the UK Government. Groups are living in limbo struggling to find answers.
“Behind every statistic is a real person - someone who wants to work but needs extra support to get there. These programmes change lives. If they disappear, people will be left behind, families will suffer, and communities will lose out. Northern Ireland simply cannot afford that. NI can’t wait. We have solutions but we need conversations to start now rather than when it’s too late.”
Northern Ireland’s VCS sector is a proven and indispensable force in addressing economic inactivity the NICVA CEO added.
“By providing essential services and support to those further from the workplace, our sector not only fills critical gaps left by statutory services but also serves as a vital safety net for communities and individuals,” Celine McStravick said.
“NICVA and the Economic Inactivity Coalition are calling on the UK Government to guarantee a dedicated programme for Northern Ireland, with funding at least matching current levels. They are also urging Ministers to put contingency plans in place now - not in 2026 - to avoid a cliff edge in service delivery.
The #NICan’tWait campaign is focused on highlighting delays from the UK Government about a new funding programme to replace the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. More here: https://www.nicva.org/article/nicvas-nicantwait-campaign-a-future-worth…
• Across 2023-2025 the UKSPF delivered £57 million to NI to address economic inactivity.
15 out of 18 projects were led by VCS groups or involved VCS partners.
• The total number of beneficiaries across the 15 projects was 23,942.
• The main recipients were those with a disability and or health condition; women, young people including homeless young people; those with convictions or involvement with criminal justice system; minority ethnic groups; carers and those aged 50 and over.
• 12 of the 15 VCS projects employ 650 staff through UKSPF
Hubs
- policy public affairs
Topics
- funding
