UKSPF Funding: How the Voluntary & Community Sector is Transforming Lives – and Why #NICantWait
The voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland has always stepped up to meet need, often working with people and communities who are furthest from opportunity. The latest data collated by NICVA shows the scale of that impact through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – and it reinforces why urgent clarity about future investment through the UK Local Growth Fund is critical.
Between April 2023 and March 2025, £57 million of UKSPF funding was committed to Northern Ireland to address economic inactivity. In practice, this meant 18 projects were supported, with 15 of them led by or partnered with voluntary and community sector organisations. Behind those numbers lies an extraordinary story of reach, collaboration, and hope.
A Network of Support Across Northern Ireland
These 15 VCS-led projects are not isolated efforts. They represent 12 consortiums and 3 stand-alone organisations, bringing together 64 different VCS partners. This breadth of delivery means that every council area in Northern Ireland has been reached – from large urban centres like Belfast and Derry, to rural communities across Fermanagh, Omagh, and Mid Ulster.
The projects have a clear common goal: to support those most excluded from the labour market. Beneficiaries include:
- People with disabilities and long-term health conditions
- Young people, including care-experienced and homeless young people
- Carers, women returning to work, and those aged 50+
- People with lived experience of the criminal justice system
- Minority ethnic communities
What unites this diverse group is that they are often the hardest to reach – and yet they have been reached.
The Human Impact Behind the Numbers
The headline figures are impressive:
- 23,942 people supported over two years
- 6,636 people (28%) moved into employment
- Of these, 3,445 sustained jobs for at least six months
- 8,875 people (43%) progressed into further education or training
- 650 staff roles funded directly through UKSPF, delivering frontline, person-centred support
But it is the unique way VCS organisations deliver this support that makes the difference. Projects don’t just provide training – they address the real barriers people face. That might mean access to childcare, help with transport, financial guidance, or simply having someone to walk alongside them through their journey.
Services are wraparound and holistic, blending life skills, mental health and wellbeing support, pre-employment training, and accredited qualifications such as NVQs, OCN NI, City & Guilds, and industry-specific licenses. This blend of practical and emotional support ensures people are not only moving into work or education, but are equipped to sustain it.
Building Stronger Communities as Well as Brighter Futures
The impact of UKSPF isn’t just seen in individual success stories – it’s also in the strengthening of local communities. With 403 full-time and 247 part-time staff employed directly through these projects, the VCS has been able to retain and grow a skilled workforce that is rooted in and trusted by local communities.
These staff bring years of experience, lived understanding, and established referral networks. Their work builds resilience in communities, creates social value far beyond the immediate outputs, and ensures that opportunity is genuinely accessible to those who need it most.
Why #NICantWait
While this data celebrates achievement, it also raises a stark warning. Current UKSPF commitments end in March 2026. Without urgent clarity on what comes next, there is a very real risk of a funding cliff-edge – jeopardising both the progress made and the people whose futures depend on it.
That is why NICVA and the wider sector are calling for urgent clarity through the #NICantWait campaign. We cannot allow uncertainty or delay to undermine life-changing work. Communities cannot afford to wait. Neither can the thousands of individuals currently finding their way back into employment, education, and stability.
The Call to Action
The evidence is clear:
- VCS-led delivery is effective, targeted, and trusted.
- It reaches those most excluded from opportunity.
- It delivers measurable outcomes for individuals, communities, and the wider economy.
The NI Can’t Wait campaign is calling for urgent confirmation that the UK Local Growth Fund will support a dedicated regional programme for Northern Ireland beyond March 2026.
This programme must:
- Deliver tailored employment support for those furthest from the labour market.
- Build on the voluntary and community sector’s proven success in tackling economic inactivity.
- Maintain funding at least at current UKSPF levels, adjusted for inflation and rising employer costs.
- Include contingency plans to avoid service disruption if decisions aren’t finalised in time
Northern Ireland’s voluntary and community sector has shown what is possible with investment. Now, decision-makers must act to ensure this work not only continues but is strengthened. Because the truth is simple: #NICantWait.
You can find more information about our campaign here: NICVA's #NICantWait Campaign - A Future Worth Funding | NICVA.
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